For which category of missions is nuclear power considered a fundamental requirement rather than an option?
Answer
Probes destined for the Kuiper Belt or the outer planets.
The necessity of using nuclear power becomes absolute for missions planned to travel to the extreme outer reaches of the solar system, such as the Kuiper Belt or the distant outer planets. In these locations, the inverse-square law reduces solar intensity to negligible levels, making solar arrays physically insufficient. For these long-duration endeavors where power degradation cannot be tolerated and consistent output is vital for receiving command signals across vast distances, nuclear energy is mandated to ensure mission viability over decades.
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