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"The best case for nuclear in the future" will be off Earth (I hope). High density portable energy sources are a godsend for solar system colonization. Solar an
by njarboe 8y ago
"The best case for nuclear in the future" will be off Earth (I hope). High density portable energy sources are a godsend for solar system colonization. Solar and wind on Mars are much worse energy sources than on Earth, especially if you factor in the cost of transport. For a long time the most powerful system per kg is the one to use.
- nradov 8y agoLaunching them from the ground is a bit risky though. We can do it reasonably safely with RTGs but with complete nuclear reactors the risk of contamination in a crash is somewhat greater.
- njarboe 8y agoWhere did you get that information? A reactor that has never been run has almost no radioactivity. Its basically just native uranium metal/oxide. RTGs are a higher risk and more radioactive. It is really a shame that such wrong ideas are so widespread.