NASA eyes nuclear-powered rocket

LA Times ^ | 1/17/03 | PETER PAE

[Brett66]

Hoping to pave the way for the human exploration of Mars within the next decade, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is expected to announce that developing a nuclear-powered rocket is its top research priority.

The space agency is expected to request "significant resources and funding" to design a nuclear-powered propulsion system to triple the speed of current space travel, theoretically making it possible for humans to reach Mars in a two-month voyage.

Excerpt; rest of article here:

Agency expected to seek funding to develop way to travel 3 times

[Frank_Discussion]

You really are a curmudgeon! The RTG's in the systems proposed are very low volume plutonium sources, so even if you did breach the casings, it is a very small amount. The fission-powered energy sources are a bit more dicey, but still nothing on par with Chernobyl, etc.

The rockets they will power, BTW, do not release radioactivity at all at any rate. Hence, if the engines blew, it wouldn't be a contaminating source in themselves.

[Frank_Discussion]

Well, since I would suffocate, I know *I* wouldn't hear it! ;-)

[Frank_Discussion]

No, but he will probably be using the crib notes from this group:

http://members.tripod.com/da_theoretical1/warpdrive.htm

(If you are truly interested, check out the site, and look up a paper by a fellow named Alcubierre. The idea of Hyper-spatial travel ain't as far-fetched as it sounds.)

[Brett66]

Is this fission rockets or fusion rockets?

Neither, it may be powered by a nuclear reactor, but the propulsion system itself uses microwaves to superheat a hydrogen plasma which is contained and channeled by electromagnetic fields. It will probably require a megawatt of power, so a space nuclear reactor will probably be the most practical power source for a spacecraft using this system.

[curmudgeonII]

Both of you folk seem to be making the assumption that this nuclear powered device is going to be completely shielded from all possible mishap until it gets to outer space, at which point it will kick in. I can't, and won't buy this bucket of worms.

If rocket technology is that great, why don't we stick our nuclear waste in rockets and fire them into the sun - thereby bringing great sighs of relief to the good people of Nevada?

[DAnconia55]

I'll bet this one will take decades just to fight off the inevitable environmentalist disruptors.

We could design one that uses environmentalists as fuel.

Cloning vats aboard the ship, stocked with Al Gore DNA would provide for an even present fuel source.

[Frank_Discussion]

The reason for the short trip is because you actually accelerate during the entire trip. Right now, rockets are like a cannon, your final speed at engine cutoff is reached quickly and is all you have to work with.

A good side benefit is that the constant acceleration should mimic gravity, avoiding or significantly reducing a number of medical issues with mocrogravity travel.

[Bush2000]

If rocket technology is that great, why don't we stick our nuclear waste in rockets and fire them into the sun - thereby bringing great sighs of relief to the good people of Nevada?

In part, because there's so much of it. The cost of launching all that waste into space far exceeds placing it in a salt mine.

[RightWhale]

this nuclear powered device is going to be completely shielded from all possible mishap until it gets to outer space

That is correct.

[Bush2000]

We could design one that uses environmentalists as fuel.

YESSSSSSSS! What better way for them to contribute to the environment than to give back their own useless atoms to the universe!

[DAnconia55]

If rocket technology is that great, why don't we stick our nuclear waste in rockets and fire them into the sun - thereby bringing great sighs of relief to the good people of Nevada?

Because that's a ridiculous waste of resources, nowhere near economic to shut up people who don't want waste stored in a fairly safe area underground.

Now, if you want to gather all the leftists up (starting with journalists, lawyers and entertainers) and place them in a rocket, let me know - I'll contribute.

[templar]

(Quick physics lesson for those who missed it: Sound waves, as we usually hear them, are actually compressed air waves. Vaccuum means no air, no air means no sound.)

Put more simply: In space, no one can hear you scream.

[Brett66]

The space shuttle, or a derivitave, would likely carry this system to LEO. The shuttle is a reasonably reliable launcher, definately reliable enough to undertake the risk of launching the components of a nuclear reactor. If you think the risk is too great, I guess you can join the Cassini protesters outside NASA's gates.

[mikegi]

(Quick physics lesson for those who missed it: Sound waves, as we usually hear them, are actually compressed air waves. Vaccuum means no air, no air means no sound.)

What does a fission or fusion explosion in space look like? There's only a tiny amount of material to explode, no air to ionize or compress, no water vapor to condense into clouds, etc. It seems like it would just be a tiny point of light. Any ideas?

[DAnconia55]

One open air nuclear bomb test is far more dangerous - even IF this reactor was to blow up (when not online) during launch.

[Frank_Discussion]

Both of you folk seem to be making the assumption that this nuclear powered device is going to be completely shielded...

While you didn't direct this at me, I'll bite. I know that I make no assumptions of perfect safety, but even in the event of some sort of breach, it is a minimal event at best. To truly be hazardous, the plutonium in an RTG would need to be nearly perfectly pulverized into a breathable or otherwise ingestible powder. That just isn't going to happen. Even if it did occur, there isn't enough mass of material to spread much farther than the very immediate area of the launch platform.

As I said previously, the fusion plants are a little more hazardous, but they too would be encased in explosion-resistant packaging. Furthermore, the reactor-type power sources would only be truly assembled and activated on-orbit, so there would be no chance of meltdown conditions occuring here.

[Brett66]

What does a fission or fusion explosion in space look like?

As a matter of fact we did high altitude nuclear tests in space in the 60's. We detonated a several megaton blast and it basically looked like the sun and then it faded to reveal a glowing sphere which quickly dissapeared. The "Trinity and Beyond" DVD's actually show a couple of videos of this test, another detonation basically had a glowing sphere with streamers coming out of the center, it was very cool.

TRINITY AND BEYOND (The Atomic Bomb Movie)

[RightWhale]

What does a fission or fusion explosion in space look like?

There were several such tests before above-ground testing was suspended. Nobody noticed unless they picked up the EMP.

[Frank_Discussion]

I'm not sure, but I suspect that it would still be fairly spectacular, even without including the earthly materials you usually see caught up in the whole event.