Michael Busch on Nostr: Ars Technica writes about the DRACO nuclear thermal rocket project. Interviews ...
Ars Technica writes about the DRACO nuclear thermal rocket project.
Interviews management at the team designing the reactor, who are quoted saying they have a coating that prevents it eroding into the exhaust but give no supporting evidence: https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/were-building-thermonuclear-spaceships-again-this-time-for-real/
There had better be very carefully contained ground tests before the thing is allowed to fly.
It is to be used in an upper stage in >700 km orbit, but that is still low enough for any fallout to come back to the ground.
Interviews management at the team designing the reactor, who are quoted saying they have a coating that prevents it eroding into the exhaust but give no supporting evidence: https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/were-building-thermonuclear-spaceships-again-this-time-for-real/
There had better be very carefully contained ground tests before the thing is allowed to fly.
It is to be used in an upper stage in >700 km orbit, but that is still low enough for any fallout to come back to the ground.