RE: Nuclear-powered spacecraft plan feared

["Strickert, Rick" <rstrickert@signaturescience.com>]

The proposed Orion spaceship propulsion system repetitively exploded small (kT-size) nuclear devices tens of meters behind the spaceship.  Plasma hitting a pusher plate attached to the main part of the ship via shock absorbers would propel the ship forward. It's described in George Dyson's book, _Project Orion_,  and an information drawing can be seen at http://trashotron.com/agony/images/warp10.gif.  

The propulsion system was designed to be used both in takeoffs from the earth and in space.  This was at a time when atmospheric nuclear testing was around 100 MT/yr.  The 1963 atmospheric (and space) nuclear test ban treaty effectively ended the Orion Project.  A small scale model was tested using conventional explosives. 



Trips to the moon, Mars, and beyond the solar system were envisioned using the propulsion system.  



No mention of how many motion sickness pills would be needed.



Rick



Richard G. Strickert, Ph.D.

Principal Scientist

Signature Science LLC 

8329 North Mopac Blvd.

Austin, TX 78759

(512) 533-2009 (Phone)

(512) 533-9563 (Fax)

rstrickert@signaturescience.com

http://www.signaturescience.com





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