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Thermal radioactive cells degrade over time as the nuclear fuel decays. The Voyager space probes use nuclear-thermal batteries. At this point they are still transmitting data, but the output is so low that they cannot run many of their instruments. Many other probes have used similar power sources.
The upside is that they do indeed last for decades, and their power output declines at a predictable rate.
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'97 Honda Civic DX Coupe 5MT - dead 2/23
'00 Echo - dead 2/17
'14 Chrysler Town + Country - My DD, for now
'67 Mustang Convertible - gone 1/17
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