Nuclear electric engines

[Strawberry]

This thread is for two concepts that I think would fill the gap between the nerv engine, and your advanced orion/fission fragment engines. These engines would likely be unlocked together on the tech tree (titled something like electric nuclear engines), and be unlocked in between the NERV and SWERV engine. Both of these engines would have the unique trait of producing power when they're not producing thrust. Both of these engines would likely require the NERV and SWERV engines to be buffed (in specific buffing thrust and isp to each respective engine) to give these engines the space they need, and probably require heating and radiation to make these engines fit within the wider engine ecosystem.

The first engine would be a small sized wave rotor nuclear thermal engine inspired by this NIAC concept. This engine would be designed for orbital use only, this engine would get isp in the 1100 seconds range, but produce about half the thrust compared to the NERV engine and be heavier. The EC generation should be around 30 to enable it to be combined with some electric propulsion. 

The second engine would be a medium sized nuclear electrothermal arcjet engine inspired by the scorpion engine. This engine works by running the propellant first through a nuclear reactor, and then through an arcjet that heats it up further. The stats of this thing would basically be a discount nuclear lightbulb, high thrust, slightly lower isp then SWERV with around 1200 isp, and very high mass. This engine should make around 75 ec or so.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Strawberry

[The Aziz]

Hydrogen powered nuclear engine with extending nozzle? Where have I seen this before...

 

[Strawberry]

1 hour ago, The Aziz said:

Hydrogen powered nuclear engine with extending nozzle? Where have I seen this before...

 

This game just really loves its extensible nozzles. 

[The Aziz]

Honestly? I don't blame them. In KSP1 many engines were simply too long to put landing legs around the stack. Now we have large legs but sometimes they don't fit aesthetically or are too big/heavy. Extensible nozzles come for the rescue!