Nuclear thermal propulsion: Difference between revisions
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Nuclear thermal propulsion uses a nuclear core to heat a propellant and provide propulsion to a space vehicle. | Nuclear thermal propulsion uses a nuclear core to heat a propellant and provide propulsion to a space vehicle. | ||
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==History of nuclear thermal propulsion== | ==History of nuclear thermal propulsion== | ||
Revision as of 18:31, 9 August 2019
Nuclear thermal propulsion uses a nuclear core to heat a propellant and provide propulsion to a space vehicle.
History of nuclear thermal propulsion
American
Nerva[1]
Russian
Analysis of use
Advantages
- Higher ISP than chemical
- Higher power energy source
- Shorter travel time
- Oberth effect
- Self cooling
Disadvantages
- Cost
- Cost of development
- Risk of accident
- Lower ISP than electric
- Low public trust
- Thrust to weight ratio usually lower than 1 (cannot take off from a planet)
Types
- Solid core
- Gas core
- Nuclear light bulb, open and closed
References
- ↑ Nerva on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA