NASA's Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Quiz

What is the primary goal of NASA's partnership with DARPA regarding nuclear propulsion?

• To explore the outer solar system

• To create a new space station

• To reduce travel time to Mars

• To develop a new type of spacecraft

What was the name of the program that Richard Nixon cut funding for in 1972?

• NERVA

• Apollo

• Voyager

• Gemini

How does a nuclear thermal propulsion system generate thrust?

• By splitting uranium atoms to heat hydrogen

• By burning chemical propellants

• By using electric engines

• By using solar panels

What is a major concern for astronauts using nuclear propulsion in space?

• Mechanical failures

• Communication delays

• Exposure to harmful radiation

• Lack of oxygen

What is the main advantage of nuclear thermal propulsion over chemical propulsion?

• Lower cost

• Higher efficiency

• Easier to manufacture

• More environmentally friendly

What is the ultimate goal of achieving nuclear fusion for energy?

• To create more powerful weapons

• To eliminate the need for fossil fuels

• To power small electronic devices

• To improve solar panel efficiency

What recent achievement did scientists at the National Ignition Facility accomplish?

• They created a new type of nuclear reactor

• They developed a new chemical propulsion system

• They launched a spacecraft to Mars

• They achieved a net gain in energy from a fusion reaction

What treaty was signed to prevent the deployment of nuclear weapons in space?

• The Outer Space Treaty

• The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

• The Cold War Treaty

• The Space Exploration Treaty

What type of power source has been used in space missions like Apollo 12 and Mars Perseverance?

• Wind turbines

• Radioisotope thermoelectric generators

• Solar panels

• Chemical batteries

What is the potential benefit of using high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) in nuclear reactors?

• It is safer and more efficient

• It produces no waste

• It is more abundant

• It is cheaper to produce