National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Power Up With Solar System Activities

Brought to you by NASA’s Radioisotope Power Systems Program

Learn how NASA explores the extremes with

out-of-this-world power systems and then build
your own scale model of the solar system
For ages 8 and up

www.nasa.gov
2
Power Up With Solar System Activities
Po
The Solar System Project is both educational and recreational. It is designed to give one an
appreciation for the enormous size of our universe. It is challenging to design a scale model of the solar
system where the same scale is used to portray not only the physical sizes of the Sun and planets, but
also the distances between them. Planets are tiny in the vastness of space. Using different methods
and creativity, a scale model of the solar system can be made showing the relative distances between
the planets. The journey through the solar system will begin with creating our closest star, the Sun. It will
continue by "traveling to, then creating" each of the planets—and beyond—unlocking some of the
secrets of space, and learning why NASA uses radioisotope power systems to explore the planets,
along with the harshest, darkest environments and farthest reaches of our solar system.

Our solar system is made up of eight planets and their moons, dwarf planets, millions of
asteroids—most orbiting our Sun between Mars and Jupiter within the main asteroid belt—comets,
and dust particles that orbit the Sun. Stars, like our Sun, generate their own light while the solar
system's planets shine by reflecting the Sun’s light.

The Sun is the center of our solar system. It is the closest star to the Earth, providing us with all the
needed energy—light and heat—for life as we know it. The Sun is so large that over 1 million Earths
would be needed to fill the same volume as the Sun.

Sun Mercury Venus Earth Mars

Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto

(Dwarf planet)

Images shown are not to scale.

 3
Table of Contents

Power Up With Solar System Activities 2

Table of Contents 3
Power to Explore the Solar System and Beyond 4
Power to Explore—Proud Past, Strong Future 5
Power to Explore—Spacecraft
Pioneer, Galileo, and Cassini 6
Voyager, Ulysses, and New Horizons 7
Curiosity, Perseverance, and Viking Lander 8
Spacecraft Coloring Pages
Voyager 9
Pioneer 10
Apollo 11
Viking Lander 12
Cassini 13
New Horizons 14
Curiosity 15
Dragonfly 16
Power to Explore—Puzzle Fun 17
The Planets and Their Orbits 18
The Solar System Scaled 19
Making Your Scaled Solar System—The Chalk Walk 20
The Solar System Step 21
The “Snowlar System” 22
Other Fun Ideas 23
Power to Explore—Puzzle Fun Answers 23
Share Your Solar System 24
4
The Power to Explore the Solar System and Beyond
When NASA sends robotic spacecraft to explore the solar system, the spacecraft have computers, cameras,
and other science instruments which act as our remote eyes and ears as they study the planets and teach
us what they discover.

Solar power is energy from the Sun. Spacecraft that orbit Earth,,
called satellites, are close enough to the Sun that they can often use e
solar power. These spacecraft have solar panels which convert the he
Sun's energy into electricity that powers the spacecraft. The electricity
city
from the solar panels charges a battery in the spacecraft. These ese
batteries can power the spacecraft even when it moves out ut of
direct sunlight. Solar energy has also been used to power spacecraft
on Mars. NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, and
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Caltech
Mars’ Phoenix and InSight landers, all used power from solar panels. Images are not to scale.

However, solar power does not work for all spacecraft. One
reason is that as spacecraft travel farther from the Sun, solar
power becomes less efficient. Solar-powered explorers may
also be limited by a planet's weather and seasons, and
harsh radiation (a type of energy). They might not have the
Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University
energy to be able to explore dark, dusty environments, such
Ryder crater is located in the South Pole–Aitken Basin,
as craters on the Moon.
which is the largest and possibly oldest basin on the
Moon.
In addition to solar power, NASA uses radioisotope thermo-
electric generators (RTGs) to turn heat into electricity. RTGs
are lightweight, compact spacecraft power systems that
provide electrical power using heat from the natural
radioactive decay of plutonium dioxide. RTGs are used on
NASA missions where other options, such as solar power, are
Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University
impractical or incapable of providing the power that a mission
Shackleton Crater is an impact crater that lies at the may need to accomplish its scientific or operational goals.
lunar South Pole. While peaks along the crater's rim
are exposed to almost continual sunlight, the interior
is always in shadow. RTGs operate continuously over long-duration space missions,
independent of changes in sunlight, temperature, or surface
conditions like thick clouds or dust. In addition, RTGs can be used to provide useful additional heat to keep
spacecraft components and systems warm. The U.S. has flown 31 missions with RTGs over the past 60 years.
 5
The Power to Explore—Proud Past, Strong Future

NASA’s RPS program works in partnership with the Department of Energy to deliver power systems and
technology for science missions to some of the most distant, dustiest, darkest, and harshest environments
in the solar system. RPS have enabled the missions listed below. The name of each mission is followed by
its RPS power source.
SUN
Ulysses (GPHS-RTG)
SATURN
Pioneer 11 (SNAP-19 RTG)
VENUS Voyager 1 (MHW-RTG)
Galileo (GPHS-RTG)
Voyager 2 (MHW-RTG)
Cassini (GPHS-RTG)
Cassini (GPHS-RTG)

TITAN
EARTH Voyager 1 (MHW-RTG)
Nimbus 3 (SNAP-19B RTG) Cassini (GPHS-RTG)
Voyager 1 (MHW-RTG)
*Dragonfly (MMRTG)
Galileo (GPHS-RTG) Planned for 2027
Cassini (GPHS-RTG)
URANUS
Voyager 2 (MHW-RTG)
MOON
ESAP/Apollo 11 (RHU)
ALSEP/Apollo 12 (SNAP-27 RTG)
ALSEP/Apollo 14–17 (SNAP-27 RTG)
NEPTUNE
Voyager 2 (MHW-RTG)
MARS
Viking 1 (SNAP-19 RTG)
Viking 2 (SNAP-19 RTG) TRITON
Sojourner/Pathfinder (RHU) Voyager 2 (MHW-RTG)
Spirit/MER (RHU)
Opportunity/MER (RHU)
Curiosity/MSL (MMRTG)
Perseverance/ (MMRTG)
Mars 2020
PLUTO SYSTEM
JUPITER New Horizons (GPHS-RTG)
Pioneer 10 (SNAP-19 RTG)
Pioneer 11 (SNAP-19 RTG)
Ulysses (GPHS-RTG) KUIPER BELT AND BEYOND Types of Missions
Galileo (GPHS-RTG) Pioneer 10 (SNAP-19 RTG)
Cassini (GPHS-RTG) Flyby Orbit Land Rove
Pioneer 11 (SNAP-19 RTG)
Voyager 1 (MHW-RTG) Voyager 1 (MHW-RTG) GPHS–RTG: General purpose heat source radioisotope thermoelectric generator
Voyager 2 (MHW-RTG) Voyager 2 (MHW-RTG) MHW-RTG: Multi-hundred-watt radioisotope thermoelectric generator
New Horizons (GPHS-RTG) New Horizons (GPHS-RTG) MMRTG: Multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator
RHU: Radioisotope heater unit
6
Power to Explore—Spacecraft
Pioneer
Choosing between solar and radioisotope power for a space s
mission has everything to do with where a spacecraft needsed ds to
operate and what the mission must accomplish when it gets geets
there. Radioisotope power is used only when it will enable le
e
or significantly add to the ability of a mission to meet its
science goals.

Pioneer 10, NASA’s first mission to explore the outer planets,

was the first spacecraft to use electrical power supplied by y
four radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). It was a
as
the first spacecraft to fly beyond Mars, fly through the main main
asteroid belt, and fly by Jupiter. It was the first spacecraft a to
aft
cross into interstellar space, becoming the first human-made n--made
object to go beyond Neptune.
NASA's Pioneer 11, a sister spacecraft to Pioneer 10, was the first spacecraft to
study Saturn up close and the second spacecraft to cross into interstellar space.

Galileo, us
using RTGs, was the first spacecraft to examine Jupiter
and itss moons
m for an extended period. Circling the solar system's
mostt g giant planet for 8 years, Galileo beamed back a string of
disc
co
discoveries to Earth.

Galileo

The New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto and took the e only
close-up images we have of Pluto and its moon, Charon. n. It went New Horizons
on to fly by Arrakoth, an object in the very distant Kuiper
uiper Belt.
 7
Power to Explore—Spacecraft
NASA's two Voyager spacecraft have traveled farther and d have
been traveling longer than any other human-made object. je
ect.
They are both are still sending back information to scientists
sts
after more than 45 years in space! Each spacecraft’ss
electrical power is supplied by three radioisotope
thermoelectric generators (RTGs). Voyager 1 flew by
Jupiter and Saturn, and is now in interstellar space,
the space between the stars. Voyager 2 flew by
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Voyager 2 is also in
interstellar space.

Voyager

Using
ng RTGs, Ulysses completed three rendezvous with
Usin
Jupiter
Juup between 1992 and 2008, utilizing the giant
planet’s
pla
p gravity to accomplish three passages over
the
t Sun’s north and south poles.

Ulysses

Cassini used RTGs to orbit Saturn for 13 years and study

Saturn and its rings and moons. It took 7 years to get from m
Earth to Saturn, flying by Venus, Earth, and Jupiter on its way
a
ay
out to Saturn. Cassini discovered some of Saturn’s rings and a
moons that had never been seen before, and discovered d that
some of Saturn’s moons are geologically active. Cassini
8
Power to Explore—Spacecraft
The Curiosity and Perseverance rovers are using radioisotopeotope
thermoelectric generators (RTGs) to explore the surface e of
Mars. Curiosity found evidence of past water on the surface ce
of Mars. Perseverance is collecting samples of the Martian n
surface that will be returned to Earth on a future mission.

Perseverance

Curiosity

Basic power for the Viking Lander was provided by two RTGs.
Gss.
The use of these generators represented a major milestone
in the development of long-lived, highly reliable isotope
power systems for space use by NASA.

The generators provided a long-lived source of electricity

and heat on Mars, where sunlight is half as strong ass
on Earth, and is non-existent during the Martian night, when
en
n
temperatures can drop as low as –120 °C (–184 °F).
Viking Lander
 9
Voyager 1 and 2
Between them, Voyager 1 and 2 have explored all the giant outer planets of our solar system,
48 of their moons, and the unique systems of rings and magnetic fields those planets possess.
10
Pioneer 10 and 11
Pioneer was the first to fly beyond Mars' orbit, through the asteroid belt, and close to Jupiter.
During the passage by Jupiter, Pioneer 10 obtained the first close-up images of the
planet, charted Jupiter's intense radiation belts, located the planet's magnetic field, and
discovered that Jupiter is predominantly a gas planet. Long before and after flying by
Jupiter, Pioneer 10 transmitted data on the magnetic fields, energetic particle radiation,
and dust populations in interplanetary space. Pioneer 11 was the first mission to explore
Saturn and the second spacecraft in humanity's early studies of the outer solar system.
 11
Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP)
The goal of NASA's Apollo program was to land
humans on the Moon and bring them safely
back to Earth. Six of the missions achieved this
goal.

ALSEP was a collection of geophysical instru-

ments designed to continue to monitor the
environment of each Apollo landing site for a
period of at least a year after the astronauts
had departed. Designed for a life of one year
(Apollo 17 was designed for two), they ended
up working for up to 8 years.

The ALSEP system, first flown on the Apollo 12

mission, consisted of a Central Station with a
communications package with leads running
out to the instruments placed around it. Its
power was supplied by a SNAP–27 model
radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG).

ALSEP
12
Viking Lander
Viking 1 was the first successful mission to land on Mars. The four Viking spacecraft provided
numerous new insights into the nature and history of Mars, producing a vivid overall picture
of a cold weathered surface with reddish volcanic soil under a thin, dry carbon dioxide
atmosphere, clear evidence for the existence of ancient river beds and vast floods, and no
detectable seismic activity.
 13
Cassini
After successfully completing the first in-depth, up-close study of Saturn and its realm from orbit,
Cassini embarked upon two extended missions to follow up on the many discoveries made
during its primary 4-year mission. Among the most surprising discoveries were geysers erupting
on Enceladus and the dynamic effects of it and other moons on Saturn's rings. Cassini also
mapped Saturn's largest moon, Titan, using radar to peer beneath its dense, hazy atmosphere.
14
New Horizons
New Horizons made the first close-up observations of Pluto and its giant moon Charon and
other smaller moons of the Pluto system. On the way to Pluto, New Horizons completed a study
of the Jupiter system taking pictures of the planet and its moons and detected clumps in
Jupiter's rings and lightning near its poles.
 15
Curiosity
Curiosity met its major objective of finding evidence of a past environment well suited to
supporting microbial life on Mars. The rover studies the geology and environment of selected
areas in the craters and analyzes samples drilled from rocks or scooped from the ground.
16
Dragonfly
NASA’s next destination in the solar system is the unique, richly organic world Titan.
Advancing the search for the building blocks of life, the Dragonfly mission will fly multiple
ventures to sample and examine sites around Saturn’s icy moon. Dragonfly will use a large
lithium-ion battery as its power source, which is designed to be recharged by a multi-mission
radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) between flights.
 17
Power to Explore—Puzzle Fun
Solve the anagrams. Use the circled letters from the words and unscramble them to complete the answer
to the puzzle. Each circled letter is used only once.

SCISINA COISUYRIT

YRAEVGO AFYOLRGDN

EIPNORE GVKNII

OPAOLL RNEOWSZOINH

LELOGIA AEERVEPERSCN

SYESSLU Radioisotope thermoelectric generators produce the power to

enable these to explore our solar system and beyond.

B T

Find the words in the puzzle. Words can go in any direction and can share letters as they cross over each other.

APOLLO NEW HORIZONS S S N O I S S I M S M O I N S V

BATTERY PERSEVERANCE P O P L H S V D S Z C C F S H M
CASSINI PIONEER J J E E S I A U S Q A S D N O R

CURIOSITY PLUTO U C A L K L N T Q H S E B O S E

DRAGONFLY SATURN T T E I I E Q R U C S S N Z T T

EARTH SOLAR SYSTEM F U N F V L T A U R I S P I A I

GALILEO SPACECRAFT A G R P L J A R P F N Y L R R P
R E Q A I H I G S O I L U O S U
HEAT STARS
C Y L F N O G A R D L U T H S J
JUPITER SUN
E U S D S U N K C E F L O W U T
MARS ULYSSES
C L B I J K S E S R A M O E N C
MERCURY URANUS
A X T I P E R S E V E R A N C E
MISSION VENUS
P Y R E G A Y O V R J V T Y U I
MOON VIKING
S S O L A R S Y S T E M U H I C
NEPTUNE VOYAGER
M S N E P T U N E Y R U C R E M
S M S J B B A T T E R Y D W Y Q
18
The Planets and Their Orbits
All the planets orbit around the Sun in the same counterclockwise direction. The period of revolution is how
long it takes a planet to make one trip around the Sun. The planets also rotate, or turn on their axes, as
they travel around the Sun. Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours, or one Earth day. The rotation of
three planets is "retrograde" (opposite the planet's orbit). The period of rotation is the time it takes a planet
to turn completely around once.

In space, the planets’ positions are constantly changing as they revolve around the Sun. They do not
actually align, as shown below, because each planet orbits the Sun at different speeds. It takes
Mercury only 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun. It takes the Earth 365 days, or one Earth year, to orbit the
Sun. Mars’ orbit takes it around the Sun in about two Earth years. Saturn takes over 29 Earth years to
orbit the Sun. Pluto, the dwarf planet, takes 248 Earth years to orbit the Sun.

Pluto
Uranus

Neptune

Sun
Asteroid Belt
ltt

Saturn
S t
Sa
Mars
Earth
Mercury Jupiter
Jupite
Venus

Comet

Artist’s concept of the planets showing the

relative size, but not distance, of the planets
to each other.
 19
The Solar System Scaled
The solar system is so big that it is measured in special units, called astronomical 1 AU
93 million miles
units, or AU. One AU is the distance between the Sun and the Earth, which is about
93 million miles. With 1 foot representing 1 AU, in about 40 feet you can create a
solar system that is about one trillion times smaller than the actual solar system.
Scaled distances are approximate.
Sun
Actual Size: 864,000 mi (1,391,000 km) in diameter Saturn
Mercury Actual Size: 75,000 mi (120,500 km) diameter
Actual Size: 3,000 mi (4,900 km) diameter Average distance from Sun: 9.5 AU
Average distance from Sun: 0.4 AU Scaled distance from Sun: 10 ft = 890 million miles away
Scaled distance from Sun: 5 in. = 36 million miles away
Venus
Actual Size: 7,500 mi (12,100 km) diameter
Average distance from Sun: 0.7 AU
Scaled distance from Sun: 9 in. = 67 million miles away
Earth
Actual Size: 7,900 mi (12,800 km) diameter
Average distance from Sun: 1.0 AU
Scaled distance from Sun: 12 in. = 93 million miles away
Mars
Actual Size: 4,200 mi (6,800 km) diameter
Average distance from Sun: 1.5 AU
Scaled distance from Sun: 18 in. = 142 million miles away

Jupiter Uranus
Actual Size: 88,800 mi (143,000 km) diameter Actual Size: 31,800 mi (51,100 km) diameter
Average distance from Sun: 5.2 AU Average distance from Sun: 19.0 AU
Scaled distance from Sun: 60 in. = 484 million miles away Scaled distance from Sun: 20 ft = 1,785 million miles away

Neptune
Actual Size: 30,800 mi (49,500 km) diameter
Average distance from Sun: 30.0 AU
Scaled distance from Sun: 30 ft = 2,793 million miles away

Pluto (dwarf planet)

Actual Size: 1,477 mi (2,370 km) diameter
Average distance from Sun: 40.0 AU
Scaled distance from Sun: 40 ft = 3,670 million miles away

Note: Scaled sizes and distances are approximate.

20
Making Your Scaled Solar System—The Chalk Walk
M
The materials needed are sidewalk chalk, a tape measure or smartphone measuring app, and about
40 feet of sidewalk. Using the scale 1 foot = 1 AU, from the previous page, start by drawing the Sun in
yellow chalk. Then, using your tape measure or smartphone measuring app, draw Mercury
approximately 5 inches away from the Sun, Venus 9 inches away, and Earth 12 inches (1 foot) away.
Use the same scale to measure and draw the remaining planets all the way out to Pluto, the dwarf
planet, being 40 feet away from the Sun at the end of your solar system.

You can draw all your planets along a single straight line from the Sun. If you have enough space,
consider drawing them at their correct distance in different spots around the Sun to represent their orbits.

Jupiter

V
Venus
Uranus Neptune
Mercury

Earth Saturn
Pluto
Mars

Sun

1 ft 5 ft 10 ft 20 ft 30 ft 40 ft
 21
The Solar System Step
Another creative way to measure
your solar system distance is by
counting steps. Start by tracing out
the Sun in yellow chalk. Walk 40
steps, to the end of your solar
system, and draw Pluto.

Walk back ten steps and draw

Neptune. Walk back ten more
steps and draw Uranus, and back
ten more steps towards the Sun and
draw Saturn. Use the distances on
the previous page to complete
your solar system, where 1 step is
equal to 1 AU.

Start
End

Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

Pluto

Be sure to write the names of the planets and the actual distances they are from the Sun. This is a great
way to visualize the scale of the solar system and get a feel for where the planets are.

Also, be sure to draw the relative sizes of the planets, as close as possible, for a more accurate sidewalk
chalk model. For example, Jupiter should be a lot bigger than Mercury and Venus.

Make it a fun learning experience.

22
The “Snowlar System”
Th
If it is snowy where you live, you can build a “snowlar system”—a solar system made of snow. If you
have access to a sidewalk, you can line up all the planets along the edge. If you are on a
playground or have a larger space, you can spread out your solar system and space the planets on
their orbits at the right distance from the Sun. Use the scale of 1 step is equal to 1 AU.

Start by making a giant snowball or mound of snow to represent the Sun. Take one step away from the
Sun to start your measurements. Make a very small snowball representing Mercury and place it about
1/2 step away from the Sun. Make a snowball about twice the size as Mercury representing Venus and
place it about 3/4 step away from your Sun. Make another snowball for
the Earth, a bit larger than the Venus snowball, and place your Earth
snowball about 1 step, or 1 AU from the Sun. Make a smaller snowball
to represent Mars, which is about half the size of Earth. Take another
step from the Sun and place Mars approximately 1-1/2 steps away from
the Sun. Take 5 steps from the Sun and make a very large snowball for
Jupiter. You can make several tiny snowballs and place them between
Jupiter and Mars to represent the asteroid belt. Take 5 steps from
Jupiter and make a large, but smaller than Jupiter, snowball for Saturn.
You can make rings out of snow or draw lines in the snow to represent
the rings around Saturn. Take 10 steps from Saturn and make a big
snowball for Uranus, then take 10 more steps and make another big
snowball for Neptune. If you have the space and want to include the
dwarf planet Pluto in your snowlar system, take another 10 steps and
make a tiny snowball for Pluto.

Have fun and think of creative ways to write the names of the planets
and their actual distances from the Sun in your snowlar system.

une
Nept
Mercury
(~1/2 step or .4 AU)
Earth
2,793 iles
Sun
(1 step or 1 AU)
m
million 0 AU)
(3
away
Ear
93 th
m
aw illion
ay
(1 Amiles
U) Venus
(~3/4 step or .7 AU)
Mars
(1-1/2 steps or 1.5 AU)
 23
Other Fun Ideas
After you create your solar system, you can add any spacecraft you just learned about, which use
RTGs as their power system. You can print and color the images in this guide or draw your own versions
of them. You can attach them to craft sticks and put them in the ground on or near the planets they
study.

You can make this a seasonal activity. In

the fall, you can make planet pumpkins of
various sizes, and place them at their
planetary distances.

In the spring, you could use plastic eggs or

color eggs to look like the planets, and hide
them (or put them in plain sight) at relative
distances from a central location like a
house, church, or schoolyard. Post a scale
(1 step = 1 AU, for example) for your solar
system to provide a clue as to how far
away to look for the eggs. Be creative and
have fun learning about the solar system.

To find out where planets are currently located,

visit https://solarsystem.nasa.gov and click on the orbiting planets at the top of the page.

Q Y W D Y R E T T A B B J S M S
Power to Explore—Puzzle Fun Answers M E R C U R Y E N U T P E N S M
C I H U M E T S Y S R A L O S S
S P A C E C R A F T I C R O B O T I U Y T V J R V O Y A G E R Y P
enable these to explore our solar system and beyond. E C N A R E V E S R E P I T X A
Radioisotope thermoelectric generators produce the power to C N E O M A R S E S K J I B L C
T U W O L F E C K N U S D S U E
U L Y S S E S
J S H T U L D R A G O N F L Y C
P E R S E V E R A N C E G A L I L E O U S O U L I O S G I H I A Q E R
P R R L Y N F P R A J L P R G A
H O R I Z O N S N E W A P O L L O I A I P S I R U A T L V F N U F

V I K I N G P I O N E E R T T Z N S S C U R Q E I I E T T
E S O B E S H Q T N L K L A C U
D R A G O N F L Y V O Y A G E R R O N D S A Q S U A I S E E J J
M H S F C C Z S D V S H L P O P
C U R I O S I T Y C A S S I N I
V S N I O M S M I S S I O N S S
24

SHARE YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM!

You have created a replica of our solar system showing the relative distances between the planets.

Share your solar system model with NASA! Snap a picture or video of your solar system and post
it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #NASASolarSystem. Be sure to get your
parents' or guardians' permission before sharing your snaps online—or ask if they can post it for you.

NASA NASA @NASA #NASA

RADIOISOTOPE
POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAM
For more information on how NASA uses radioisotope power
to explore the solar system, visit https://rps.nasa.gov.

Power Up With Solar System Activities | 07012022