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Yes, both USA and Soviet experimented with nuclear powered planes during the 60s. The problem was how to shield the pilots from radioactivity. https://en.wikipe
by wobbegongz 6y ago
Yes, both USA and Soviet experimented with nuclear powered planes during the 60s. The problem was how to shield the pilots from radioactivity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear-powered_aircraft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear-powered_aircraft
They also experimented with nuclear powered drones.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a33565112/cia-nuclear-bird-drone-spy-communists-declassified/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a33565112...
And Russia now claims to have a nuclear engine that can make a cruise missile fly for days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9M730_Burevestnik https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9M730_Burevestnik
- LargoLasskhyfv 6y agoWhat if there were a reactor type which would require no, or much less shielding because all it emits is mostly hard ultraviolet light? [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_lightbulb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_lightbulb
- ben_w 6y agoI read that as using UV light to transfer energy to the working fluid, not that the actual nuclear reaction itself would be any different to any other nuclear reactor.
- LargoLasskhyfv 6y agoEven when it reads "It would be operated at temperatures of up to 22,000°C where the vast majority of the electromagnetic emissions would be in the hard ultraviolet range." ? edit: Sigh.. disregard, cf. https://web.archive.org/web/20080109011832/http://www.nuclearspace.com:80/a_liberty_ship10.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20080109011832/http://www.nuclea...
- hackerfromthefu 6y agoAnother problem is crashes or accidents