Submitted by rosTopicEchoChamber t3_zxuwtv in space
dittybopper_05H t1_j25ohpo wrote
Reply to comment by amitym in What if we kept pursuing nuclear spacecraft propulsion? by rosTopicEchoChamber
Even the paper studies (such as they are) haven't been well-funded.
There actually are several different possible applications for NTR. Getting to Mars and back in half the time it takes by chemical rocket is a good one. Getting there and back quickly makes the problem a whole lot easier. It boils the difficulties down to ones we've largely already solved.
Even just having the ability to put a probe to, say, Uranus or Neptune without having to do a whole bunch of gravity assists, and still get there in a reasonable amount of time, is good reason. Those two planets are very unexplored, and Triton may have a subsurface ocean. But we won't really know until we go there.
Plus, even having unmanned stations on the moon (like very large radio telescopes on the far side, like Arecibo and FAST, built into craters) means we'll need to haul a bunch of stuff up to the Moon. Having NTR-propelled craft means we'll be able to send more up there, and we could refuel them in Earth orbit. When we need to retire them, send them on a trajectory into the Sun.
amitym t1_j25qr2o wrote
So what you're saying is that permanent heavy orbit to orbit shuttles are the application?
dittybopper_05H t1_j28l6lg wrote
Earth orbit to lunar orbit, sure.
But you could also also use them for other things. The engines are about twice as efficient as chemical rockets for solid core designs, and since the fuel is generally hydrogen and no oxidizer is needed, that simplifies refueling, and also means you can loft that much more fuel per launch, because hydrogen is the lightest element, all other things being equal.
But you could also use something like that for maintenance of geosynchronous satellites, something we simply don't do now. And for even higher missions. Imagine being able to service the Webb Space Telescope like we've done with the Hubble Space Telescope. Having a near-Earth tug capable of getting astronauts to the Moon and back would also allow missions like that.
I kind of get the impression that you're not really imagining the possibilities here. Kind of like looking at a Wright Flyer in 1904 and asking "What use is it?", not seeing that something like that just opens the door for further development and that the jobs will be attracted to the application.
Heh, kind of reminds me about how the "killer app" for personal computers back in the early 1980's was organizing your recipes.
In short, if you build it, creepy ghost players will emerge from the maize.
amitym t1_j2a246f wrote
No, I'm kind of making fun of you because you are saying the same things I am.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments