How quick is ‘quick’?.................................
I know how nuclear propulsion is used on board ships and subs, but Iām wondering how it would be used in spacecraft.
the anti-nuke cult will object because they dont want nuclear waste raining down on the planet in the case of a contingency.
The Jupiter 2 had a nuclear powered engine š
The hardest part about using a nuclear reactor for space travel is making it light enough to launch, yet robust enough to survive an unplanned 'launch event.'
I love reading about technology that small minds shut down 60 years ago.
In order to make the “nuclear rocket” concept work, the primary function of the small atomic reactor is to supply sufficient heat so whatever the propellant may be, it is expelled as a hot stream of gas, giving the thrust comparable to the burn of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen (or other rocket fuel), to lift heavy payloads from the ground and through space. As the atomic reactor heat unit is MUCH smaller than the size of the tanks that hold the liquid oxygen and liquid rocket fuel, and the propellant to be heated may something like simple water, the weight requirements are much lower, and an even greater payload is possible.
People are so accustomed to the idea of chemical rockets, the idea of using heat generated from a small nuclear reactor seems really novel.
But highly practical.
If only some brilliant British engineer could just figure out a way to harness nuclear power to power the electrical grid!
And I just happen to be reading Stranger in a Strange Land as we speak!
The USA built one in the 60’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDNX65d-FBY
The key was building a reactor that used ceramics instead of water cooling/moderator.
The plan was to replace the Apollo Service Module with Nerva engine and then fly it to Mars.
Once again it’s between the US and Brittan as to which engine will be best suited for travel, like in the P-51 Mustang, Allison vs Merlin rolls 61. Just a thought.
Can’t Quick Trip just continue to operate off the grid?
We’ve already sent rockets to the moon and Mars (and in fact, out of the solar system as well), so I hardly see the point.
Hi.
I don’t have the cajones to be strapped into a capsule sitting on top of six tons of hydrazine and liquid oxygen and let someone light a match.
Maybe if they can figure out nuclear propulsion, I’ll go.
5.56mm
Isn’t part of the problem getting there quickly is also slowing down once you get there?