Future Incredible asks an interesting question. Is it now time to consider the nuclear option in regards to space propulsion? The idea is that a nuclear powered space propulsion system will provide greater velocity for space craft on deep space missions.
There have been a variety of nuclear propulsion proposals over the years. Some of them are:
NERVA
NERVA was an American project to create a nuclear thermal rocket which ran from the early 1960s to 1972, until it was cancelled by the Nixon administration. The idea was to build a propulsion system that would use a nuclear reactor to super heat liquid hydrogen, creating a much higher thrust than was possible with chemical rockets. NERVA engines were tested extensively during the mid to late 1960s. It was envisioned for conveying large payloads to the moon and for a planned manned mission to Mars. But with the cancellation of Apollo and with no approval for a Mars mission, NERVA was canceled.
Orion (Nuclear propulsion)
The Orion project, not to be confused with the current Orion space capsule, was an audacious idea to create a propulsion system that used the detonation of small nuclear bombs to propel a space craft. Orion lasted from 1957 to 1964. The concept was the a large space craft (some designs were the size of battleships) would shoot a stream of nuclear bombs astern, where they would explode near a pusher plate, propelling the spacecraft forward. Such a spacecraft would have reduced flight times to places like Mars to weeks. The Jupiter and Saturn systems were thought to be within reach using an Orion spacecraft. Potential problems facing an Orion were fallout from the nuclear bombs for those launching from the Earth's surface and EMP pulse. The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed in 1963 made the Orion concept moot and the project was soon canceled.
Prometheus
Prometheus was a concept proposed by NASA in the early 21st Century. It would have involved a nuclear reactor as a power source for an ion engine. This would have given the engine a higher thrust than with solar power, making it capable to delivering large payloads great distances. The Prometheus was planned for a mission to be called Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter. The JIMO would have featured a Prometheus powered space probe that would travel to the Jovian system and orbit, in turn, the moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Prometheus was canceled due to its expense and complexity, however.
VASIMR
VASIMR is a private project being conducted by Ad Astra Rocket Company for a high performance ion engine. NASA is looking at the possibility of using a nuclear powered VASMIR to propel human missions to Mars.
Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo and The Last Moonwalker. He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times and The Weekly Standard.
htc flyer review westboro stevejobs stevejobs steve jobs commencement speech sarah palin espn body issue
No comments:
Post a Comment