3 ms·
I think the differences are less dramatic than that. You're conflating the nuclear fuel internal temperature (inl.gov link) with hydrogen exhaust temperature (N
by perihelions 4y ago
I think the differences are less dramatic than that. You're conflating the nuclear fuel internal temperature (inl.gov link) with hydrogen exhaust temperature (NERVA / 2,300 K). There should be a sizable temperature gradient between those two.
- idlewords 4y agoExactly. The temperature limit for the exhaust (and therefore the specific impulse) is set by the materials used to make the engine. You can run a reactor as hot as you want, but it will want to vaporize itself and the spacecraft around it.