International shipment of light weight radioisotopic heater units (LWRHU) using the USA/9516/B(U)F Mound 1 kW shipping package in support of the “Pluto Express” mission

Radioisotopes have provided heat that has been used to maintain specific operating environments within remote satellites and spacecraft. For the “Pluto Express” mission the $238PuO2$ fueled light weight radioisotopic heater unit (LWRHU) will be used within the spacecraft. Since the current plan for the “Pluto Express” mission incorporates the use of a Russian launch platform for the spacecraft, the LWRHUs must be transported in an internationally certified shipping container. An internationally certified shipping package that is versatile enough to be reconfigured to transport the LWRHUs that will be required to support the “Pluto Express” mission is the Mound USA/9516/B(U)F.