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I don't think our track record has been too good here. I took RERO at the
Nevada Test site, and the final drill took place at the nuclear rocket test
site. It was explained to us that they never had a successful demonstration of
this rocket-the core failed and sent pieces of the core out the exhaust and
hence all over the desert floor.
The design for the Mars mission can be found on the web using the keyword
NERVA. Slick concept, but it will require building another prototype facility
for testing. And the nuclear reactor concept is a little misleading as the
propellant will be hydrogen. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of the first
protoype at NTS? |