How can nuclear reactions be used for in-space propulsion?

Answer 1

A number of ideas have been proposed using #"nuclear reactions"# for space propulsion.

There are a number of technologies which could be used for using nuclear power for space propulsion. Some have actually been used.

Nuclear pulse propulsion involves setting of a sequence of atomic bombs to propel the space craft. The spacecraft would need a substantial shield behind it to protect the craft and occupants from the radiation and the blast. It would involve a lot of sudden accelerations which would damaging. It couldn't really be used in the atmosphere because of fallout.

A nuclear thermal rocket would use a nuclear reactor to heat up liquid Hydrogen or other reaction mass which would be ejected to cause thrust. This involves having a nuclear reactor on the ship - but this is how nuclear submarines work. It has in fact been tested.

The Bussard ramjet idea uses a magnetic field to scoop hydrogen from space and compress it and heat it to start a fusion reaction. There is actually too little Hydrogen in space to make this effective.

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Answer 2

Emma Arguello

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) are two ways that nuclear reactions are used for in-space propulsion. NTP uses heat from nuclear fission reactions to heat a propellant, such as hydrogen, which then expands through a nozzle to generate thrust. NEP uses a nuclear reactor to generate electricity, which powers electric thrusters, such as ion or plasma thrusters. When compared to traditional chemical propulsion, these methods offer higher specific impulse, which makes space exploration more rapid and effective.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.