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The nuclear payload could be treated similar to humans, with eject systems and soft landing built in. The fuel will only be needed for a lighter craft in deep

• ben_w 3y ago
  > The nuclear payload could be treated similar to humans, with eject systems and soft landing built in. In principle yes — even just on the grounds that enriched fuel is expensive — but it's a hard thing to prove in advance, hence all the times humans died in a space mission one way or another.
  • gibolt 3y ago
    There have only been 5 instances resulting in 19 fatalities. None were when exiting the atmosphere. 2 were the flawed Space Shuttle on return. Only one other was a flight system, on an experimental craft. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spaceflight-related_accidents_and_incidents#:~:text=%2Fcosmonaut%22).-,During%20spaceflight,the%20entire%20crew%20was%20killed https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spaceflight-related_.... Today's rockets are far more reliable, and anything holding nuclear fuel should be the best of the best.
    • WalterBright 3y ago
      > None were when exiting the atmosphere Er, Challenger?