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by tdy721 3825 days ago
I call B.S. A nuclear powered one would probably be pretty quiet.
2 comments

Are Rat Things[0] really viable?

"MMRTG contains a total of 10.6 pounds (4.8 kilograms) of plutonium dioxide (including Pu-238) that initially provides approximately 2,000 watts of thermal power and 110 watts of electrical power when exposed to deep space environments."[1]

Even if ~110 watts per ~4.8 kilograms is good for legs in agile situations, as opposed to wheels in a slow-and-steady rover, losing one in combat means you've just given the enemy a few kilos of radioactive material.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Crash#Rat_Things [1]http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/files/mep/MMRTG_FactSheet_update_10...

It would be exciting to hunt, too. Catch one and never pay your power bill again!