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Why would no sane civilization use Orion-like bomb propulsion? I imagine the cost-benefit analysis changes when liftoff is nearly impossible with available chem
by x1798DE 12y ago
Why would no sane civilization use Orion-like bomb propulsion? I imagine the cost-benefit analysis changes when liftoff is nearly impossible with available chemical rockets, though I'm not quite sure what your objection is.
- TeMPOraL 12y agoIf it occurs to them at all that the benefits may be greater than costs. I'm extrapolating here a lot from human condition, but we humans have a tendency to first do something and only then begin to understand its potential. It's not that we carefully considered all the benefits of artificial satellite network before inventing the first rocket capable of reaching orbit. So a hypothetical civilization living at the bottom of a deeper gravity well might not even consider spaceflight, and be forever stuck on their world. Kerbals have it easy though. They can tour their entire solar system with the same amount of delta-v we need to reach Low Earth Orbit :/.
- x1798DE 12y agoI was specifically wondering why the Orion-like bomb is so bad that no sane civilization would ever use it. The parent comment seemed to indicate that even if you knew you wanted to go into space and had the idea for an Orion-like system, you wouldn't use it unless you were insane, but I see no justification for that.