Difference between revisions of "Nuclear thermal propulsion"

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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.
  
== History of nuclear thermal propulsion ==
+
==History of nuclear thermal propulsion==
Nerva
 
  
=== Advantages ===
+
=== American ===
 +
Nerva<ref>Nerva on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA</ref>
  
* Higher ISP than chemical
+
=== Russian ===
* Higher power energy source
 
* Shorter travel time
 
* Oberth effect
 
  
=== Disadvantages ===
+
== Analysis of use ==
  
* Cost
+
===Advantages===
* Cost of development
+
 
* Risk of accident
+
*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

Revision as of 10:30, 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
  • Nerva on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA