INL Veteran Reflects on 35-Year Career Powering Space Exploration & Nuclear Innovation

Dave Hendricks spent over three decades at Idaho National Laboratory, contributing to key advancements in nuclear technology and space missions.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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After a 4-year stint in the U.S. Navy, Dave Hendricks embarked on a 35-year career at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), where he played pivotal roles in nuclear research, spacecraft power systems, and Mars rover development. Hendricks reflects on his journey, from working on experimental reactors to assembling radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) that powered NASA missions like New Horizons and the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers.

Why it matters

Hendricks' career highlights INL's critical, yet often overlooked, contributions to advancing nuclear technology and enabling landmark space exploration. His work on RTGs and post-irradiation fuel examination helped sustain missions billions of miles from Earth and inform the design of safer, more efficient future reactors.

The details

Hendricks began at INL in 1991, initially focusing on the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II. He later transitioned to roles in fuel examination, engineering, and the lab's space power program, where he supervised the assembly of RTGs used to power the New Horizons spacecraft and the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers. From 2018 until his 2026 retirement, Hendricks contributed to post-irradiation examination research to assess nuclear fuel performance.

  • Hendricks began working at INL in 1991.
  • From 1996 to 2002, Hendricks worked at the Hot Fuel Examination Facility and the Fuel Conditioning Facility.
  • Hendricks transitioned to the engineering lab from 2002 to 2003.
  • In 2005, Battelle Energy Alliance assumed management of INL, ushering in a new era of national security, energy, and space-related work.
  • From 2004 to 2017, Hendricks was deeply involved in INL's space power program, including assembling RTGs for NASA missions.

The players

Dave Hendricks

A 35-year veteran of Idaho National Laboratory, where he contributed to nuclear research, spacecraft power systems, and Mars rover development.

Tammy Hendricks

Dave Hendricks' wife of 30 years, with whom he raised two children.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

A U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory located in eastern Idaho, focused on nuclear technology, energy, and space-related research and development.

Battelle Energy Alliance

The company that assumed management of INL in 2005, ushering in a new era of national security, energy, and space-related work.

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which has relied on INL's expertise in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) to power spacecraft and Mars rovers.

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What they’re saying

“If 9/11 hadn't happened, we likely wouldn't have reevaluated our security. Something good came from something terrible.”

— Dave Hendricks (newsdirectory3.com)

“RTGs don't store power like household batteries. Instead, they convert heat from the natural decay of plutonium-238 into electricity, producing steady power for decades.”

— Dave Hendricks (newsdirectory3.com)

“INL played a critical behind-the-scenes role in designing, testing, and certifying the nuclear power system that keeps New Horizons operating billions of miles from the sun, long after solar panels would have become useless.”

— Dave Hendricks (newsdirectory3.com)

“If we did something wrong, the experiments would be useless. The mission would be dead.”

— Dave Hendricks (newsdirectory3.com)

“I'm all in on nuclear energy. I'm proud to be part of the advances in nuclear technology. It's the right path forward for worldwide energy, and I hope the enthusiasm for nuclear keeps going.”

— Dave Hendricks (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

Hendricks plans to travel with his wife, Tammy, in their motor coach, explore the Oregon coast, and dedicate more time to his hobbies of hunting, fishing, and restoring classic cars.

The takeaway

Hendricks' career at INL highlights the lab's critical, yet often overlooked, contributions to advancing nuclear technology and enabling landmark space exploration missions. His work on RTGs and post-irradiation fuel examination helped sustain missions billions of miles from Earth and inform the design of safer, more efficient future reactors, demonstrating the vital role of national laboratories in driving scientific and technological progress.