Russia hopes nuclear ship will fly humans to Mars

[Ridgerunner665]

Originally Posted by kajidono

They did design nuclear engines that could lift payloads from the ground.

I didn't know that...interesting, I'll have something to read up on.

[3408]

Originally Posted by kajidono

Eh, it depends. The engine doesn't lift the ship from the ground, they have regular boosters for that. It's only meant to push a weightless vessel through empty space in a straight line. Doesn't take much.

The only fly in the ointment here seems to be the possibility of a major malfunction in the rocket boosters during launch resulting in the destruction of the entire launch vehicle.

Any nuclear reactors and their contents would be spread far and wide around the launch pad. The higher up when it blows, the wider the contamination.

Hardly worth the risk.
I'm all for nuclear power as long as it isn't hanging over my head everywhere I go.

[truckermario]

I wouldn't trust the Russians with a nuclear hat rack.

[kajidono]

Actually an airburst of inert material wouldn't leave much of anything. The old bomb tests they did out at bikini proved that. It'd be different using the engine to launch but just moving the pieces into space should be safe.

[3408]

Originally Posted by truckermario

I wouldn't trust the Russians with a nuclear hat rack.

You, me and just about everybody else on planet earth.

[kajidono]

I actually wouldn't trust anyone with a nuclear hat rack. Those things are dangerous.