Quote from: rsdavis9 on 10/02/2019 07:09 pmQuote from: gaballard on 10/02/2019 06:29 pmI always saw the main advantage of nuclear power (albeit fusion, less fission) the ability to generate a lot of electricity for electric thrusters, giving them appreciable thrust in addition to the crazy high ISP.I have no idea how feasible that would be, given the mass of a reactor, the mass of the thrusters and fuel, necessary control equipment/wiring, etc., or if it'd even be possible with a fission reactor.Add radiators for the waste heat or you can't get any electricity out of it.Sorry if this is a dumb or obvious question, but is that because you can't create the temperature gradient needed for the thermoelectric effect without the radiators?
Quote from: gaballard on 10/02/2019 06:29 pmI always saw the main advantage of nuclear power (albeit fusion, less fission) the ability to generate a lot of electricity for electric thrusters, giving them appreciable thrust in addition to the crazy high ISP.I have no idea how feasible that would be, given the mass of a reactor, the mass of the thrusters and fuel, necessary control equipment/wiring, etc., or if it'd even be possible with a fission reactor.Add radiators for the waste heat or you can't get any electricity out of it.
I always saw the main advantage of nuclear power (albeit fusion, less fission) the ability to generate a lot of electricity for electric thrusters, giving them appreciable thrust in addition to the crazy high ISP.I have no idea how feasible that would be, given the mass of a reactor, the mass of the thrusters and fuel, necessary control equipment/wiring, etc., or if it'd even be possible with a fission reactor.
Quote from: gaballard on 10/02/2019 08:15 pmQuote from: rsdavis9 on 10/02/2019 07:09 pmQuote from: gaballard on 10/02/2019 06:29 pmI always saw the main advantage of nuclear power (albeit fusion, less fission) the ability to generate a lot of electricity for electric thrusters, giving them appreciable thrust in addition to the crazy high ISP.I have no idea how feasible that would be, given the mass of a reactor, the mass of the thrusters and fuel, necessary control equipment/wiring, etc., or if it'd even be possible with a fission reactor.Add radiators for the waste heat or you can't get any electricity out of it.Sorry if this is a dumb or obvious question, but is that because you can't create the temperature gradient needed for the thermoelectric effect without the radiators?Yes.Also for stirling or any other heat engine to generator hookup.
