U235 isotope half life is 703.8 million years. That's the reason .72% of natural Uranium is U235 while the vast majority is U238. Hence the need for enrichment plants (i.e., gaseous diffusion, centrifugal, laser, etc.) for reactor full and weapon uses. The bombardment of U238 with a neutron is what creates Pu239 via a Neptunium decay.
You're describing a nuclear ion drive, which I don't believe is as efficient as a nuclear direct rocket.
Here's a video from Marcus (out of Australia, Tasmania) who follows Space X and other launches on a weekly basis. I watch on YouTube to see what Musk is doing in Boca Chica, Texas and the cape. This is one of his specialty videos about nuclear space propulsion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLD4DpuGWUA.
02/07/2023 12:29:45 PM PST
· 35 of 45 103198
to telescope115
It’s the old action reaction concept. Instead of the reactor boiling water in the steam generator to turn a turbine, the reactor is used to heat a gas and expel it through a nozzle. The gas at a given temperature and pressure is heated by passing through or near the core which increases it temperature and pressure. When it is released through the nozzle, it creates thrust from the velocity of its molecules being released.
12/14/2022 10:50:26 AM PST
· 10 of 10 103198
to Brooklyn Attitude
You have to wonder what has happened in the clearance process that would enable this individual to obtain the necessary clearances. Think who else might be in the system...