To satisfy national security and space exploration requirements beyond 2010, the Energy Department must accelerate a program to re-establish domestic plutonium-238 production, according to a recently released DOE inspector general report. "While current requirements can be satisfied with existing stockpiles and purchases from Russia, after 2010 additional material will likely be needed," the report states. "However, the re-establishment of a domestic production capability -- which will take five to six years -- has been delayed." Plutonium-238 is used to make...
