WhatTheZuck420 t1_jckbhjr wrote on March 17, 2023 at 1:38 PM

would not want to be downwind when they launch the pellets/rods

NotShey t1_jcko7kb wrote on March 17, 2023 at 3:08 PM

Most of our really big probes and rovers are already carrying a fair bit of nuclear material. RTGs.

WhatTheZuck420 t1_jcl3q57 wrote on March 17, 2023 at 4:47 PM

gotcha. ditto for them.

NotShey t1_jcl50xf wrote on March 17, 2023 at 4:55 PM

Good thing you are not setting policy for NASA then.

ACCount82 t1_jcktdow wrote on March 17, 2023 at 3:41 PM

Launching nuclear fuel into space is fairly safe, because it only becomes highly radioactive after the reactor starts running.

So you build and launch your reactor in a fully "stopped" state. You make sure it makes it to its destination. And only then you start the reactor and make the fuel "hot".

zamfire t1_jcn256b wrote on March 18, 2023 at 12:45 AM

Not a lot of wind on the moon.