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A comment on NASA to test prototype Kilopower nuclear reactor. Parent comment

Re:NASA to test prototype Kilopower nuclear reactor by dvdkhlng on Monday December 11, 2017 @08:52AM (#15896998)
If you want to use the RTG to power thrusters, then I'd think that doing the "detour" via a stirling engine to create electrical current to turn into thrust might be unnecessary.

There must be some way to directly turn radioactivity (or heat) into thrust with sufficiently high exhaust velocity!?

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Re:NASA to test prototype Kilopower nuclear reactor by wbl on Monday December 11, 2017 @10:36AM (#15897646)
Let me introduce you to the NERVA rocket. Nuclear thermal propulsion exists, but it's a real pain to make work and they had to search for coatings that could stand the heat and fuel.
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