Re:Surprising Phosphate Finding in NASA's Osiris-Rex Asteroi...
by XorNot on Monday July 01, 2024 @12:11PM
(#40847209)
It occurs to me since survivability isn't a problem for an unmanned probe, that a "cold" nuclear thermal engine vehicle could be used as a loitering interceptor: get it a solar orbit, and leave it till you see a target, then accelerate up to extra-solar escape velocity.
It solves the disposal problem neatly, since the probe and reactor are both leaving the solar system forever afterwards.
It solves the disposal problem neatly, since the probe and reactor are both leaving the solar system forever afterwards.