NTR launch escape system concept

[Kryten]

I highly doubt an NTR reactor could feasibly be made 'high-impact shielded' like RTG fuel elements; the mass penalty would be enormous, and all of the channels for coolant, movement of moderator et.c. would severely compromise the armour.

[architeuthis]

It would be used in the case the NTR powered upper stage couldn't be fired to get itself into orbit (think of the public outrage over firing a nuclear powered rocket engine in the atmosphere. It would problably crush any space agency to its breaking point). also I think the Russians can care less about the failure of their Briz-M upperstage, as they already have a lake were by just standing around it you instantly get cancer.

If the NTR isn't ever fired then there is nothing particularly dangerous inside the reactor. In that case it is just another piece of space debris.

[gooddog15]

If the NTR isn't ever fired then there is nothing particularly dangerous inside the reactor. In that case it is just another piece of space debris.

I didn't say it wasn't ever going to be fired, it was intended to be flown upside down with a heatshield sandwiched between it and a fuel tank (kind of like the cancelled Copernicus ship for project constellation

) with a umbilical running fuel from the fuel tank to the NTR

I was thinking of something like this:

5. ........____ ____

[>[] [) [____] [___]<]

1.__2.___3.___ 4.

1. NTR

2. heatshield

3. fueltank

4. upperstage from launch vehicle

5. fuel umbilical (periods)

[meve12]

To properly conduct their spying, RORSATs needed to be in an ultra-low orbit - so low that they needed to be somewhat aerodynamic. As such, they elected to use a nuclear reactor instead of solar panels, because it has less drag. Bit overkill if you ask me.

Mount solar panels on small wings?

More draggy, but can compensate for slower speed with some lift.