 Image of SNAP 10A Space Nuclear Power Plant | |
| Mission type | Engineering |
|---|---|
| Operator | USAF |
| COSPAR ID | 1965-027A |
| SATCAT no. | 01314 |
| Mission duration | 43 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Atomics International |
| Launch mass | 440 kg (970 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 3 April 1965, 21:25 |
| Rocket | Atlas-Agena D |
| Launch site | Vandenberg AFB, PALC2-4[1] |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | May 16, 1965 |
| Decay date | April 3, 5966 (planned) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.00319 |
| Perigee altitude | 1,268 km (788 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,317 km (818 mi) |
| Inclination | 90.2° |
| Period | 111.4 minutes[2] |
| Epoch | 3 April 1965 |
Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power | |
SNAP-10A (Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power,[3] aka Snapshot for Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power Shot, also known as OPS 4682[4]) was a US experimental nuclear powered satellite launched into space in 1965[5] as part of the SNAPSHOT program.[6][4] The test marked both the world's first operation of a nuclear reactor in orbit,[7][8] and the first operation of an ion thruster system in orbit. It is the only fission reactor power system launched into space by the United States.[9] The reactor stopped working after just 43 days due to a non-nuclear electrical component failure.[10] The Systems Nuclear Auxiliary Power Program reactor was specifically developed for satellite use in the 1950s and early 1960s under the supervision of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.[11][12]
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathon's Space Report. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Snapshot". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "News In Brief: Nuclear Reactor For Space". The Canberra Times. Vol. 36, no. 10, 203. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 April 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 12 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia., ...the reactor would "be known as "Snaps 10a" for "Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power"...
- ^ a b Snapshot, Gunther's Space Page. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "Reactor goes into space". The Canberra Times. Vol. 39, no. 11, 122. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 April 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 12 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ SNAPSHOT, NASA Glenn Research Center, March 20, 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "History of US Astronuclear Reactors part 1: SNAP-2 and 10A", Beyond NERVA, April 3, 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ Andrew LePage, "The First Nuclear Reactor in Orbit", Drew Ex Machina, April 3, 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ NASA Utilization of Space Nuclear Systems for Robotic and Human Exploration Missions (PDF) (Report). NASA. July 2022. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Nuclear Reactors for Space, Briefing Paper # 82, January 2004
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nasa/doe2010was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lords, R. E. (August 1994), SNAP and AI Fuel Summary Report, Westinghouse Idaho Nuclear Company, Inc., doi:10.2172/10182034, OSTI 10182034, WINCO-1222, UC-510