What fundamental operational difference exists between the RTG on Transit 4A and the SNAP-10A fission reactor regarding control?

Answer

The RTG's control is passive because its decay rate cannot be altered, unlike the reactor

The fundamental difference in operational control between the two early nuclear systems lies in the mechanism generating heat. The RTG utilized in Transit 4A relies on Isotopic Decay, specifically from Plutonium-238. Because this process is governed by the inherent, fixed half-life of the isotope, the power generation is entirely passive; the decay rate cannot be actively altered or controlled by the spacecraft operators. Conversely, the SNAP-10A system was a true nuclear fission reactor that utilized a controlled chain reaction. This allowed for active control, meaning the reactor could be started, adjusted, and, critically for safety testing, remotely shut down, a feature impossible with the passive decay heat source of the RTG.

What fundamental operational difference exists between the RTG on Transit 4A and the SNAP-10A fission reactor regarding control?

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