From: Mike Rosing <rosing@neurophys.wisc.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
Subject: Re: Plasma/Fusion rocket
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison
References: <alvog7$5psi$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu> <am5sp9$bfab$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu> <am9p50$i7q$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu>


Scott Stephens wrote:

>
> I read a bit about a similar nuclear engine at:
> http://www.fas.org/nuke/space/c07sei_2.htm
>
> Such as the "16 - Gas Core Nuclear Light Bulb "
>
> Airforce says (at FAS site, 2001 news article) they gave up. I have a
> feeling that thermodynamic issues will plague engines that operate at
> nuclear energy levels and are held together by chemical energy bonds. The
> heat and vibration is just too much, unless the engine is 'disposable' or
> self-consuming like the gas envelope. Who will develop your patent?

According to http://www.fas.org/nuke/space/c07sei_5.htm it says:

The Panel concluded that "a Mars mission can be performed with NERVA
technology" and that "incremental component improvements resulting in an
Isp > 900 are straight forward development tasks." Rather, the panel
contended that "Nuclear Furnace and System Test Facilities are the
challenge - an early start is required," (emphasis added) on work on
these facilities.
:
:
However, in the absence of funding for SEI generally, these plans came
to naught.

They didn't give up, they just never got funding to do it. The ideas
are still sound - nuclear rockets can do the job. And there are a
lot of ways to build them too! So thanks for the pointer, there are
some 40 references there on different designs which should be fun to
read (one of these days....)

Patience, persistence, truth,
Dr. mike



--
Mike Rosing
www.beastrider.com BeastRider, LLC
SHARC debug tools



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