The Space Shuttle Program had alternate designs to make the orbiter nuclear Post 1980.

Circa 1972 http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720009983

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The Space Shuttle Program had alternate designs to make the orbiter nuclear Post 1980.

Circa 1972 http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720009983

Has nothing to do with THE SPACE SHUTTLE, but is for any space shuttle. Note the line where it says the engine is delivered to orbit separate from the rest of the vehicle. This was a concept for shuttle between planets, when we thought there would be a real space program today.

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In those days the long term effects of radiation in space on humans was severely underestimated. Had they known in the late 1960s what is known now about the intensity of radiation beyond the earth's magnetic field there probably would have been no trips to the moon. NASA got very lucky that none of the Apollo crews got toasted.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

In May an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut will go to the ISS for a one year stint. We'll see the consequences of a long duration mission in space.
Tullio

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I think it would have cost a great deal more to build a rotating wheel such the one seen in 2001 A Space Odissey.
Tullio

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A question I have always asked with no real reply is why did they design the ISS not to have artificial gravity? Was it not technically possible?

They want the zero G environment for science experiments, it wasn't built as a hotel.

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I still find it odd that either a re-usable moonlander as a shuttle between the ISS and the moon hasn't been developed. Or an orbiting mothercraft like a miniature ISS orbiting the moon, and a smaller moon lander.

Then you can pop down to the moons surface to collect rocks, then use a permananent space based shuttle between the moon ISS and the main ISS. And then a Space X device back to earth.

How do you perform servicing and checks/repairs?

The existing Soyuz 'lifeboats' have a limited time at the ISS due to the harsh temperature cycling, micrometeors, and radiation during each orbit, and a lack of servicing all adding up to steady deterioration...

A system like that would enable you to build a moonbase as well. But as we have seen NASA everybody seems more interested in Mars and asteroids now.

Moonbase Alpha?...

You need to develop rockets that don't need fuel tanks for that to work! ;-)


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Even with a rotating wheel space station the area at the hub would a microgravity region. Not going that route was all about money, or the lack thereof. It would take a large fleet of space shuttles and boosters to build a space station like the ones in the movies.

Back to the original topic. I doubt that NASA ever seriously considered using nuclear power for a craft designed to stay in earth orbit or even one intended to fly to the moon.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Space craft nowadays do use nuclear power http://www.space.com/12118-space-nuclear-power-50-years-transit-4a.html

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Yes, as electrical power generators but not for propulsion.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Yes, as electrical power generators but not for propulsion.

Add an ion drive...


Keep search in,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)