By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Mnementh said:
Nighthawk117 said:

Yes, the NERVA program ended around 1970.  They had the Prometheus program in the 80s or 90s.  Not sure what the new name is now.

You don't want a nuclear powered rocket to get you off the Earth - hell people are scared enough of RTGs.  You want chemical rocket engines to get you off the Earth, but to go from Earth orbit to deep space, a nuclear powered engine is far away, the most efficient way to travel.

Are you sure? The main reason it takes so long to get to Mars is, that the probes aren't under full thrust the whole time. Because fuel would be needed, which in turn would need to be accelerated at first which needs more fuel to accelerate all the fuel. I don't see how nuclear propellants solve that problem.

If I look here, I see the proposed nuclear rocket engines, they are hypothetical: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_engine#Nuclear

Go to Wikipedia and look at a Gas Core Nuclear Rocket (GCNR)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_core_reactor_rocket

Last edited by Nighthawk117 - on 25 November 2020