Nuclear propulsion apparatus with alternate reactor segments
- Santa Monica, CA
1. Nuclear propulsion apparatus comprising: A. means for compressing incoming air; B. nuclear fission reactor means for heating said air; C. means for expanding a portion of the heated air to drive said compressing means; D. said nuclear fission reactor means being divided into a plurality of radially extending segments; E. means for directing a portion of the compressed air for heating through alternate segments of said reactor means and another portion of the compressed air for heating through the remaining segments of said reactor means; and F. means for further expanding the heated air from said drive means and the remaining heated air from said reactor means through nozzle means to effect reactive thrust on said apparatus.
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4147590
- Application Number:
- 04/484,488
- OSTI ID:
- 863319
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Trap apparatus with bypass
High-temperature turbopump assembly for space nuclear thermal propulsion
Related Subjects
air
alternate
apparatus
apparatus comprising
compressed
compressed air
compressing
comprising
directing
divided
drive
drive means
effect
expanding
extending
fission
fission reactor
heated
heated air
heating
incoming
incoming air
means
nozzle
nozzle means
nuclear
nuclear fission
nuclear propulsion
plurality
portion
propulsion
propulsion apparatus
radially
radially extending
reactive
reactor
remaining
segments
thrust