What event is considered the starting point for 60 years of nuclear power usage in spacecraft, according to the text?
Answer
The successful deployment of the Transit 4A satellite in 1961
The event that initiated the era of nuclear power usage in orbit, spanning six decades, was the successful operation of the RTG aboard the Transit 4A satellite. Launched in 1961, this mission demonstrated for the first time that the consistent heat generated by the natural radioactive decay of an isotope could be reliably converted into usable electrical power in space. This success validated the basic principle of using RTGs, a technology whose longevity is still relied upon today, such as in the Voyager probes. While SNAP-10A was a significant technological leap involving fission, Transit 4A marked the actual starting point for deploying nuclear power in space.
Related Questions
What power source was utilized by the US Navy's Transit 4A satellite launched in 1961?What was the approximate electrical power output generated by the SNAP-10A fission reactor during its operational test in 1965?Which specific radioactive material served as the fuel source for the SNAP device aboard the Transit 4A satellite?What fundamental operational difference exists between the RTG on Transit 4A and the SNAP-10A fission reactor regarding control?What was the primary technological role or mission objective of the SNAP-10A flight in 1965?Which issue made traditional solar arrays unsuitable for long-term navigation and deep-space probes?What event is considered the starting point for 60 years of nuclear power usage in spacecraft, according to the text?How did the engineering complexity and resource demands of the SNAP-10A fission system compare to the RTG used on Transit 4A?What characteristic defines the lifespan potential of RTG technology, as exemplified by the Transit 4A power unit?What critical safety feature was designed into the SNAP-10A reactor system before its operation ended after 43 minutes?