| mrstickball said: 1. Is the econoboost engine going to be as efficient as the European one? 2. SpaceX has to prove their Dragon capsule is vastly safer than any current design in use. That is despite how woefully dangerous the Space Shuttle program was. 3. Nuclear power plants have been built since the 70s and 80s... Just not in America. |
The 1.3L engine is the same engine. So....yes.
2. http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112531295/spacex-crew-accommodations-system-receives-nasa-approval/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45120136/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/spacexs-dragon-escape-system-approved-nasa/
3. I wasn't referring to anywhere outside the US.
Let's give you a history lesson, because obviously one is needed. After Three Mile Island, and a few other incidences at other nuclear power plants, neither the government approved nor did electric companies seek approval for nuclear power plants. As well, because of this, nuclear power plant technology halted in the US, especially after the US struggled to figure out what to do with its nuclear waste.
If you're not building nuclear power plants because public outcry at the very mention of them (very large protests) than you're not going to have any new plants with any technology (old or new) being built.
Starting in 2015 the first new Nuclear Power plant will be put into operation, followed by 29 more. A few of them will be based-on older designs, but a significant number will be Gen III+ and Gen III++ plants. There are no Gen IV plants anywhere in the world.
So, they're on their way, they just take time. However, the US has committed $8b to its nuclear infrastructure. Not to mention, the US obtains more energy from nuclear right now than any other nation on Earth.
