David & group,
The trend seems to be away from nuclear rockets of the thermal propulsion type, towards those which use nuclear-generated electricity for ion propulsion ( = NEP, for Nuclear Electric Propulsion).
The latter avoid the political PR issues associated with venting propellant directly out of the reactor during ground tests (there will always be small amounts of contaminants in the stream, even if everything works according to plan; ...suggestions of capturing & containing the exhaust stream seem impractical).
NEPs may not be the best technical choice, but they may be the only choice.
Jaro
-----Original Message-----
From: David Whitfill [mailto:djwhitfill@MSN.COM]
Sent: Wednesday February 05, 2003 4:14 PM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: RE: Nuclear powered rocket
Good information...thanks! If we are serious about a Mars mission, a new
NERVA prototype will have to be built. Being a proponent of research
reactors I view a revival of the NERVA program as a good thing, but we need
public support and the public needs to be educated in the risks along with
past triumphs and failures. Here are some interesting links: