Primera parte de una serie de notas sobre Propulsion Nuclear. El texto esta en ingles por conveniencia. Saludos.
Thoughts on Nuclear Flight
Introduction
Nuclear propulsion is a concept that has been developed mainly for Spacecraft Transportation and Missile applications. The most prominent example are the alternative engines developed for Saturn V. Most of the initial research and experimentation was carried out in the Nevada Test Site (Area 25) under the Rover and NERVA projects.
The development of Nuclear propulsion continues up to date, however despite many successful engine firings there is no evidence of launched rockets with nuclear propulsion, a fact mainly attributed to the end of the Space Race (and posterior safety concerns).
The concept of nuclear flight is older than those tests however. Also new advances in material science and physics mark a interesting point in time to revise the potential of this technology.
Figure 1 Engine Test Stand (Redstone Arsenal)
Figure 2 NERVA Solid Core Design (WP)
A series of Chapters will be provided by the Author to show the physical principles and potential applications.
Main topics that will be covered are:
• Rocket Motion
• Atmospheric Flight
• Space Flight
• The Nuclear Engine
• Efficiency of Rocket components
• Propellant and Comparison of Approaches
• Material technology
• Reactor Calculations
• Rocket System Engineering
• Rocket Control
• Testing Facilities
• Sample Design and Applications
The aim of the notes is to provide clear insight into the physics involved and allow the reader to perform sample calculations via proposed exercises.
Thoughts on Nuclear Flight
Introduction
Nuclear propulsion is a concept that has been developed mainly for Spacecraft Transportation and Missile applications. The most prominent example are the alternative engines developed for Saturn V. Most of the initial research and experimentation was carried out in the Nevada Test Site (Area 25) under the Rover and NERVA projects.
The development of Nuclear propulsion continues up to date, however despite many successful engine firings there is no evidence of launched rockets with nuclear propulsion, a fact mainly attributed to the end of the Space Race (and posterior safety concerns).
The concept of nuclear flight is older than those tests however. Also new advances in material science and physics mark a interesting point in time to revise the potential of this technology.
Figure 1 Engine Test Stand (Redstone Arsenal)
Figure 2 NERVA Solid Core Design (WP)
A series of Chapters will be provided by the Author to show the physical principles and potential applications.
Main topics that will be covered are:
• Rocket Motion
• Atmospheric Flight
• Space Flight
• The Nuclear Engine
• Efficiency of Rocket components
• Propellant and Comparison of Approaches
• Material technology
• Reactor Calculations
• Rocket System Engineering
• Rocket Control
• Testing Facilities
• Sample Design and Applications
The aim of the notes is to provide clear insight into the physics involved and allow the reader to perform sample calculations via proposed exercises.