Posts by Ajax_wolf

Chilean scientists crack lost lake mystery

Back on topic

This type of thing has occurred before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missoula_Floods

Space nuke boffin: NASA Moonbase needs nuclear rockets

re: How can nuclear reactions be used?

I think they only produce heat (from which electricity is produced). You can only get electricity from nuclear reactions and can't use them for space travel.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Since you asked, I will.

Rockets use Newton's second and third laws. A chemical reaction is used to create thrust which pushes against the rocket, not the surrounding air.

And while you are correct in that (some) nuclear reactions produce heat, there are two ways that a nuclear REACTOR can be used to produce useable thrust for space travel.

The first is a Nerva type engine. You use the reactor to produce heat, which is used to heat up a reaction mass and accelerate it out the end of the craft. This is where Newton's Second Law applies, F=ma= thrust.

The second is to have the reactor produce electricity for use in creating a very high strength magnetic field. Then you introduce some mass into the coil which accelercates the mass out the other end as ions. Again, F=ma=thrust. This type of engine is already being used by NASA.