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> Project Pluto. Sorry, should have mentioned that the Americans came up with this ugly idea. Edit: And in defense of the Americans they canned it: "Despite
by eitland 7y ago
> Project Pluto.
Sorry, should have mentioned that the Americans came up with this ugly idea.
Edit:
And in defense of the Americans they canned it:
"Despite these and other successful tests, the Pentagon, sponsor of the "Pluto project", had second thoughts. The weapon was considered "too provocative",[2] and it was believed that it would compel the Soviets to construct a similar device, against which there was no known defense."
- remarkEon 7y ago>The nuclear engine could, in principle, operate for months, so a Pluto cruise missile could be left airborne for a prolonged time before being directed to carry out its attack. This is truly nightmare inducing stuff.
- yborg 7y agoThis was originally developed in the 1950's, and the successful development of SLBMs rendered it irrelevant, since as a cruise missile it would have been much easier to intercept than a ballistic warhead, as well as much slower to reach a target, and submarine launch also provided first strike immunity. And this is what happens when your nuclear thermal propulsion system goes prompt critical on the ground. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_thermal_rocket#/media/File:Destruction_of_KIWI_Nuclear_Reactor_-_GPN-2002-000145.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_thermal_rocket#/media/... This was a nominal 1100MW design, the Pluto reactor was about half this output. It's insane that the Russians are testing this thing over their own territory.
- HillaryBriss 7y ago> It's insane that the Russians are testing this thing over their own territory. It would also be insane if the Russians were testing this thing over someone else's territory. It's just insane.