What was the primary technological role or mission objective of the SNAP-10A flight in 1965?

Answer

To test the performance and safety of a small nuclear fission reactor operating in space

The SNAP-10A mission was explicitly defined as a dedicated technology experiment rather than an operational power delivery system for a primary mission. Its main goal was to rigorously test the performance, safety protocols, and electrical conversion capabilities of a small, self-sustaining nuclear fission reactor while operating in the space environment. This differed significantly from Transit 4A, whose nuclear component served as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) supporting the functional mission of orbital navigation. The brief, controlled operation of SNAP-10A, which included a remote shutdown sequence, was designed specifically to pave the way for considering higher-power nuclear sources for future propulsion or high-rate data needs.

What was the primary technological role or mission objective of the SNAP-10A flight in 1965?

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