The idea of using nuclear material for propulsion dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.
Nuclear electric propulsion spacecraft.
Both have been tested successfully though solar electric propulsion.
The idea of electric propulsion for spacecraft dates back to 1911 introduced in a publication by konstantin tsiolkovsky.
Earlier robert goddard had noted such a possibility in his personal notebook.
Nuclear electric propulsion that converts thermal energy to electricity to power plasma thrusters for highly efficient and rapid transport of large payloads e g a propulsion system with a power level of at least 1 mwe and a mass to power ratio kg kwe that is substantially lower than the current state of the art of nep systems.
The nuclear electric rocket terminology is slightly inconsistent as technically the rocket part of the.
Rtgs convert the heat generated by the radioactive decay of plutonium into electricity.
In 1903 it was hypothesized that radioactive material radium might be a suitable fuel for engines to propel cars and boats.
Nuclear propulsion includes a wide variety of propulsion methods that use some form of nuclear reaction as their primary power source.
Nuclear thermal propulsion is not to be confused with radioisotope thermoelectric generator rtg tech.
Electrically powered propulsion with a nuclear reactor was considered by dr.
Tony martin for interstellar project daedalus in 1973 but the novel approach was rejected because of very.
Nuclear thermal propulsion has a number of advantages over current chemical and electric propulsion systems.
An illustration of a spacecraft for deep space missions powered by nuclear thermal propulsion.
There are two main ways to power an electric spacecraft engine.
A spacecraft using ntp could cut the travel time to mars by 20 or 25 percent compared.
Via solar energy absorbed from the sun or via nuclear fission.
Game changing technology for deep space exploration.