Imagine if this is a failed rocket launch, and russia has a fleet of nuclear rockets just idly circling the earth in the furthest orbits, undetected
O O F
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion is eyed only for spacecraft
Imagine if the nukes have already dropped and we are living in inner eather
a cruise missle is a stalking weapon
Not rockets meant to send payloads into space
You'd think the US or China would INSTANTLY pick up on that
Yes, it is the most optimal in interplanetary space
not below radar
A nuclear rocket would be THE BEST choice for asteroid mining
why?
mining != demolition
Because it can provide thrust for hundreds of years
Asteroid mining is not thay feasible rn
but that has nothing to do with mining
@Andrew Popa 2.0 exactly my point, and they want to skip the nuclear powered phase entirely and go straight into laser prolusion and solar sails
It can bring any asteroid out of the oort belt and let it circle the earth in a stable orbit for mining
Why mine asteroids? Just crash them into Siberia and come in with trains and choppers.
Well in thay case it depends
that is a pipe dream;lasers can't provide the power
There is research in all methods of propulsion
we'd have fusion reactors if we had those kinds of materials
Asteroids have far more rare earth materials than earthly mines do
but asteroids are in space
possibly in more pure form too
it'd be Fusion Powered and it'd be a laser propulsion system that uses solar sails for interplanetary travel
mines can be accessed by any pleb
not even
A nuclear-thrust rocket that will last you many years can retrieve asteroid from space without causing a disaster
laser propulsion requires a quantum leap in about 4 differnt field
And erthlings then gain some precious mineral
nuclear thrust?
remember, there isn't a displacement medium
Anyways back to previous topic the ruskies are basically trying to get the Americans into dick measuring contest again
the Orion drive is the only feasible idea
It is already is being used on small satellites that leave solar system
Aye bruno you want some pizza?
But those are ion thruster powered by a nuclear device
those are nuclear thermal ion drives
Russia tried a thermonuclear this time
the thruster is still an ion drive
