# Radio Thermal Generators (RTG's)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-thermal-generators-rtgs/55514>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 22, 2001, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-thermal-generators-rtgs/55514 "2001-02-22T21:22:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chickendoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@chickendoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chickendoc)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2001, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-thermal-generators-rtgs/55514/1 "2001-02-22T21:22:02Z")

</div>

I’ve read about Radio Thermal Generators used in everything from satellites to pacemakers. How do these things work?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-thermal-generators-rtgs/55514/2 "2001-02-22T21:44:04Z")

</div>

Did you try going to [http://www.yahoo.com](http://www.yahoo.com)?  
Did you try typing in “radio thermal generator” (with quotes) there?

I did.  
I found out what they are just by reading descriptions of webpages- no clicking was needed!

**I’m not telling you!!!**

Nyaa Nyaa Nyaahh!