Which issue made traditional solar arrays unsuitable for long-term navigation and deep-space probes?
Answer
Unreliability when a satellite passes into the shadow of a planet or far from the sun
The text clearly outlines the limitations of conventional power sources that necessitated the shift toward nuclear technology for extended missions. For solar arrays, the primary flaw mentioned is their dependency on direct sunlight; they become unreliable or cease operation entirely when the spacecraft passes into the shadow cast by a planet. Furthermore, their efficiency drops drastically when operating far away from the Sun, making them inadequate for deep-space applications. This contrasts with the self-contained nature of nuclear systems, which function regardless of sunlight or mission orientation, providing the necessary continuous power.
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?