Question: Which agency amongst the following is working on Project Kilopower to build a nuclear power system for Mars?
(a) ISRO
(b) NASA
(c) JAXA
(d) Roscosmos
Ans: (b)
Related facts:-
- NASA’s technology development branch has been funding a project to establish Nuclear power system for Mars.
- The project is costing about $ 15 million.
- Testing of the project is due to start in September and end in January 2018.
- The system will be demonstrated at the Nevada National Security Site near Las Vegas.
- Under this project NASA envisions sending four or five small fission reactors to Mars.
- Each fission reactor is capable of generating about 10 kilowatts of power.
- Last time NASA tested a fission reactor was during the 1960s’ Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power, or SNAP, program, which developed two types of nuclear power systems (i) Radioisotope thermoelectric generators, (ii) An atom-splitting fission reactor.
- In the RTG system, heat released from the natural decay of a radioactive element, such as plutonium.
- RTGs have powered dozens of space probes over the years, including the Curiosity rover currently exploring Mars.
Related Links:-
https://www.space.com/37348-nasa-fission-power-mars-colony.html
http://nucleotidings.com/article/nasa-working-small-fission-reactors-mars-habitats
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/nasa-mars-colony-potential-kilopower-uranium-lee-mason-us-department-of-energy-a7819601.html
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa-seeks-nuclear-power-for-mars/