Nuclear fusion rockets could slash travel times through deep space dramatically, potentially opening up vast swathes of the solar system to human exploration
Contents contributed and discussions participated by asfldkj
NASA Eyeing Nuclear Fusion Rockets for Future Space Exploration | Advanced Propulsion C... - 0 views
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You could get to Saturn in a couple of months
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Traditional chemical propulsion systems can get humans to destinations in deep space, but with a lot of travel time. For example, a roundtrip manned mission to the vicinity of Mars, which NASA aims to execute by the mid-2030s, would require about 500 days of spaceflight.
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NASA team pushing towards thermal nuclear propulsion systems - 0 views
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NTREES
Project Orion (nuclear propulsion) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views
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Project Orion was a study of a spacecraft intended to be directly propelled by a series of explosions of atomic bombs behind the craft (nuclear pulse propulsion). Early versions of this vehicle were proposed to take off from the ground with significant associated nuclear fallout; later versions were presented for use only in space.
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The Orion nuclear pulse drive combines a very high exhaust velocity, from 19 to 31 km/s in typical interplanetary designs, with meganewtons of thrust.[4] Many spacecraft propulsion drives can achieve one of these or the other, but nuclear pulse rockets are the only proposed technology that could potentially meet the extreme power requirements to deliver both at once
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The Orion concept detonates nuclear explosions externally at a rate of power release which is beyond what nuclear reactors could survive internally with known materials and design.
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Nuclear-Powered Ships | Nuclear Submarines - 0 views
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Nuclear power is particularly suitable for vessels which need to be at sea for long periods without refuelling, or for powerful submarine propulsion. Some 140 ships are powered by more than 180 small nuclear reactors and more than 12,000 reactor years of marine operation has been accumulated. Most are submarines, but they range from icebreakers to aircraft carriers.
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USS Enterprise, powered by eight reactor units in 1960
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ithout a single radiological incident, over a period of more than 50 years.
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CVN-65 Enterprise - 0 views
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As the only super carrier powered by eight nuclear reactors, Enterprise will be the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier to undergo an inactivation.
interstellar ramjet - 0 views
84568main_warp44.gif (677×467) - 0 views
84518main_warp12.gif (689×515) - 0 views
NASA - Ideas Based On What We Know - 0 views
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About 5 bombs per second are dropped out the back and detonated to propel the craft along. A huge shock plate with shock absorbers make up the base of the craft.
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This project ended with the nuclear test ban treaty in the 60’s.
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Well, rather than bring your fuel along, why not get it as you go. This Bussard Interstellar Ramjet concept, from the 1960’s