02. How could we generate electricity for propulsion? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

Two approaches are solar power generation and nuclear power generation. Solar power is attractive because it comes free from the Sun, whereas nuclear power must be generated using some sort of reactor and fuels that are brought along in the spacecraft. The apparatus for generating nuclear energy would likely be more compact and lighter than that for solar power but would also likely be more dangerous to install and maintain. The analyses and trade-offs of these two approaches are typical of the work aerospace engineers perform.

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Answer provided by Jon H. Brown

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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