Difference between revisions of "Nuclear thermal propulsion"
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==History of nuclear thermal propulsion== | ==History of nuclear thermal propulsion== | ||
| − | === American === | + | ===American=== |
Nerva<ref>Nerva on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA</ref> | Nerva<ref>Nerva on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA</ref> | ||
| − | === Russian === | + | ===Russian=== |
| − | == Analysis of use == | + | ==Analysis of use== |
===Advantages=== | ===Advantages=== | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
*Thrust to weight ratio usually lower than 1 (cannot take off from a planet) | *Thrust to weight ratio usually lower than 1 (cannot take off from a planet) | ||
| − | === Types === | + | ===Types=== |
| − | * Solid core | + | *Solid core |
| − | * Gas core | + | *Gas core |
| − | * Nuclear light bulb, open and closed | + | *Nuclear light bulb, open and closed |
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
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.
Contents
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
