The United States has limited experience launching fission power systems into space to provide power for satellites. A single fission power system, the SNAP 10A was launched in 1965, but since that time forty-one Radioisotope Power Sources (RPS) have been launched on thirty-one missions. Fission Power Sources (FPS), such as the Kilopower system, are set to change the space nuclear power paradigm by offering simple, compact low power options. This paper explores the history of space nuclear power and provides insights and recommendations for future progress.
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