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Similar to a tiny Radioisotope thermoelectric generator, these units normally provide about 1 watt of heat each, derived from the decay of a few grams of Plutonium 238. This heat is given off continuously for several decades.
Their function is to provide highly localised heating of sensitive equipment (such as electronics) in deep space. The Cassini-Huygens orbiter to Saturn contains 82 of these units (in addition to its 3 main RTG's for power generation). The Huygens probe to Titan contains 35.
The total mass of a single RHU (including shielding) is about 40 grams.
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