Gas-core rocket reactors - A new look

Abstract

The current status of research on t h e feasib i l i t y of an open-cycle gas-core nuclear rocket engine i s presented.program, r e a c t o r c r i t i c a l experiments are being conducted, cold-and hot-flow tests nre being performed, and both experiments and analyses are underway t o deternine canpositions and gas opaci t i e s at reactor conditions.The use of a space r a d i a t o r may pexmit attainment of a s p e c i f i c inpulse ranging from 2500 t o C500 seconds, f o r en- gine thrust ranging from 20,OOO t o 4$O,OOO ne8-' tons and engine pressure ranging f h m 0.5xI.O t o $ ZXLOS newtons per square meter.Mission applicat i o n s t u d i e s show t h a t this class of rocket engines are capable of 80-day-roundtrip missions t o Mars, with the engine and cannuand module r e i n s e r t -