Project Rover: a study of the nuclear rocket development program, 1953-1963
It took the Cold War to spur the decision in the US to establish a nuclear rocket program; it took the inception of the Space Race between the US and USSR to give that program its focus and direction. In short, the US began a nuclear rocket program for national security reasons. The program began in 1954 as a concept to be investigated for use as a backup delivery system for the Atlas missile. The Los Alamos Scientific and Livermore Radiation Laboratories, however, advocated developing the system for operational military use; the Department of Defense stated in 1957 that no millitary need existed, but that the program should be continued for future space applications. In 1961, President Kennedy believed that Soviet space achievements were a threat to the nation's security and decided to establish a comprehensive space policy. The policy was premised on the belief that the US had to surpass the Soviets not only in the 1960's but also in the 1970's and 1980's. That goal was criticized by Executive office personnel in 1962 and 1963 because they believed the nuclear rocket would be very costly to develop and most costly to use. Their view prevailed; the nuclear rocket program was reoriented to a basic technology development effort.
- Research Organization:
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5798301
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ROVER REACTORS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
USA
NATIONAL SECURITY
PUBLIC POLICY
SPACE
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
MOBILE REACTORS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
SECURITY
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
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