JMBuilder Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I find both of these to be useful and fair. The stock NERVA has low thrust, high efficiency and is only somewhat heavy, but very large. The NP NERVA has high thrust, high efficiency and is more compact, but SUPER heavy. With these characteristics, I consider neither to be cheating.What do you fellow astronauts think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghery88 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Could you make up a simple chart with the characteristics? I'm looking for the NP NERVA in vain... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMBuilder Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) Stock NERVA:Weight: 2.25Thrust: 60Gimbal: 1NP NERVA:Weight: 8.5Thrust: 235Gimbal: 0.5Both engines have much higher impulse in vacuum than in atmosphere and are both incredibly fuel efficient. Edited September 25, 2012 by JMBuilder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghery88 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Would be nice to have an exact ISP on the NP, but I think I vote for the stock one. It's fuel efficient and that's a great advantage on interplanetary flights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMBuilder Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 They're both pretty darn fuel efficient. I think the stock NERVA has a vacuum ISP of about 800 while the NP version has a vacuum ISP of over 1000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodGuy Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 1100 to be exact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluekommeh Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Well it really depends on what craft you are using them on. To be honest, the NP Nerva is probably large enough for large 2m craft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAO Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 remember, Kosmos has a NERVA as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_ca Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I tend toward the NP NERVA if I'm looking at a long mission with a large ship. Then it just makes sense to make the most out of my fuel. (To that end, I much prefer ion engines, if I have a choice.)The stock NERVA is great for smaller ships though. 6 tonnes is a pretty big difference. O.o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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