The solid-core heat-exchanger nuclear rocket program

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:75920

Malenfant, R E ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

As measured by the results of its accomplishments, the nuclear rocket program was a success. Why, then, was it cancelled? In my opinion, the cancellation resulted from the success of the Apollo program. President Kennedy declared that putting a man on the moon by 1969 would be a national objective. Upon the Apollo program`s completion, space spectaculars lost their attraction, and the manned exploration of Mars, which could have been accomplished with nuclear rockets, was shelved. Perhaps another generation of physicists and engineers will experience the thrill and satisfaction of participating in a nuclear-propulsion-based program for space exploration in decades to come.

• OSTI ID: 75920
• Report Number(s): CONF-940602-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 95:003867-0091
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 70; Conference: 35. annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society, New Orleans, LA (United States), 11-16 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems