Questions tagged [nuclear]
Questions regarding the use of nuclear devices in space exploration, e.g. to power or propel spacecraft.
116 questions
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With Project Orion nuclear pulse propulsion, what were the predicted travel times to Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn?
I know it's been canceled for a very long time and involved using literal nuclear shaped charges for propulsion, but I’m still interested in the answer.
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I've heard that nuclear thermal propulsion will get 800-900 ISP. Is this the same as it got on ground tests or is it a prediction of vacuum isp?
In other words is there potential for it to perform significantly better than expected when first tested in space?
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Diagonal ice tunneling rover to reach a safe pressure in Mars?
Is the ice on Mars deep enough to bore down into it to sustain around 10 PSI (69 kPa) air pressure? The device I have in mind is a rover with a reactor that melts through the ice slowly to create a ...
5votes
1answer
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What's the theoretical dV of the SNAP-10A satellite?
SNAP-10A, launched in 1965, was the first nuclear reactor tested in orbit. It was intended to produce 500 watts of electricity for a year, but it only lasted 43 days; a voltage regulator in the ...
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Nuking mars for colonization
While I have seen the idea for nuking Mars’s polar ice caps to release water, the fallout from the thermonuclear blasts could plunge the planet into a nuclear winter which could stop us from ...
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Will the next deorbiting reactor be on a "safe disposal" trajectory, or re-enter as an uncontrolled derelict?
Kosmos 954 was a reconnaissance satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1977, powered by a nuclear reactor containing 50Kg of highly enriched uranium-235 Soviet officials … lost control over the ...
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1answer
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Is the Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy allowed to launch nuclear material?
Certain missions, like the various NASA Mars Rovers (Curiosity, Perseverance, Opportunity, etc.) contained either RTGs for power generation or RTHs for heating purposes, and these contain nuclear ...
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Is there a rocket that is publicly in the process of being certified to carry nuclear payloads to space?
As it currently stands in the US, only 1 rocket has the proper certification to carry a nuclear payload to space, and that is Atlas 5. (At least, this was my last knowledge). Atlas is nearing end of ...
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Could a Nuclear-Thermal turbine keep a winged craft aloft on Titan at 5000m ASL?
It's what it sounds like: Given the output of the NASA nuclear reactor (the one they're going to use for the Artemis program), and the use of an electric-motor-driven turbine system, how feasible is a ...
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How does NASA have permission to test a nuclear engine?
In this article on nasa.gov (https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-darpa-will-test-nuclear-engine-for-future-mars-missions) it mentions that NASA will test a nuclear rocket engine for future crewed ...
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1 kiloton nuclear device to clear up debris and dust to expose the iron-nickel core for open-pit mining (on M-Type asteroids)?
My understanding is that initial acceleration from the blast and following solar wind will clear the area around the asteroid for spacecraft navigation (in reasonable time). A 2-3 kilometer M-type ...
anon
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Can Nuclear Pulse Propulsion (Project Orion) accelerate a 100,000 ton M-type (metallic) asteroid to a LEO? [closed]
Project Orion: specific impulse in the range of 6,000 seconds. For example – Starship Interplanetary (SpaceX): Max Fuel (after refueling at orbit) - 1,950 ton Fuel left after arriving at NEO asteroid –...
anon
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Lunar nuclear power system - how can hydrogen generated on the Moon be liquefied?
In September 2020, NASA asked for proposals for a lunar nuclear power system. The 10-kW water electrolysis system can create 5-10 tons of hydrogen in a week from the Moon’s surface ice. How would you ...
7votes
3answers
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Can we dig for air pressure on Mars?
Digging 8km under the lowest point on Mars will get us Mount Everest conditions for air pressure. I was thinking of two ways of doing said title: Nuclear powered bulldozers working around the clock to ...
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Solid Core Antimatter Engines: Do they have a point?
On the graph discussed in this question, I was surprised to see "antimatter" listed as one of the engine types... with a disappointing performance equal to solid-core nuclear thermal rockets....
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