- Introduction
- Project Orion
- Project Daedalus
- Project Prometheus
- Matter-antimatter
- Interstellar Ramjet
- Ares V
- Conclusion
Project Orion
Project Orion is a space project first introduced in the 1960's that discusses traveling through space using a system of nuclear propulsion. Nuclear pulse propulsion was developed by mathematician Stanislaw Ulam. The project originated at General Atomics in San Diego. The rocket would work by a series of atomic explosions, produced by nuclear fission, behind the spacecraft to propel it into space. There are disks of solid propellant throughout the combustion chamber that are vaporized by the explosions. The disks turn to a hot plasma, which rushes out in all directions and impacts a "pusher plate." The force upon the "pusher plate" propels the rocket forward.
Plastic was chosen as the propellant because it absorbs neutrons well and breaks down into fast, light atoms like hydrogen and carbon. "A shock absorbing system was devised so that the impulse energy delivered to the plate could be stored and then gradually released to the vehicle as a whole."
The idea of the project was to create a cheap form of interstellar travel and do it in a fast and efficient way. The purpose was an attempt to transport large expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and Saturn. The nuclear bombs would explode roughly 200 feet behind the vehicle. There was a fear from environmentalists that the atomic explosions it depended on would release harmful radiation into the environment. This idea seemed absurd to some, but is why it inevitably failed. The international nuclear test ban treaty of 1963 is a big reason why we have never tested this technology. The partial test ban stated that nuclear weapons could not be tested in the atmosphere or under water. Once this treaty was passed, no organizations would give any further funding and Project Orion was terminated.
Plastic was chosen as the propellant because it absorbs neutrons well and breaks down into fast, light atoms like hydrogen and carbon. "A shock absorbing system was devised so that the impulse energy delivered to the plate could be stored and then gradually released to the vehicle as a whole."
The idea of the project was to create a cheap form of interstellar travel and do it in a fast and efficient way. The purpose was an attempt to transport large expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and Saturn. The nuclear bombs would explode roughly 200 feet behind the vehicle. There was a fear from environmentalists that the atomic explosions it depended on would release harmful radiation into the environment. This idea seemed absurd to some, but is why it inevitably failed. The international nuclear test ban treaty of 1963 is a big reason why we have never tested this technology. The partial test ban stated that nuclear weapons could not be tested in the atmosphere or under water. Once this treaty was passed, no organizations would give any further funding and Project Orion was terminated.