perfectcircle12
New member
A few years back, the Russians said they were looking into nuclear space propulsion for a Mars shot, but nothing much seems to happening on that front. The US Gov doesn't even seem to consider it an option. It's a shame, seeing as it seems to be the most efficient method available to us under current or near-future tech.
So if a private company or corporation had the money and the will, would they be able to pursue nuclear space propulsion on their own initiative? If the US Gov isn't interested, would they at least let a private corp develop this kind of tech (under intense supervision)? I realize it's extremely difficult to get Uranium/Plutonium, but would a major, established corporation (like Boeing or Raytheon) meet any roadblocks in procuring it?
Or if the US Gov said no, could the corporation go to a country like Brazil and develop the program there?. Brazil uses nuclear energy and has an infant space program. I think they'd want to be on the forefront of something like this if someone else carried the financial burden.
So if a private company or corporation had the money and the will, would they be able to pursue nuclear space propulsion on their own initiative? If the US Gov isn't interested, would they at least let a private corp develop this kind of tech (under intense supervision)? I realize it's extremely difficult to get Uranium/Plutonium, but would a major, established corporation (like Boeing or Raytheon) meet any roadblocks in procuring it?
Or if the US Gov said no, could the corporation go to a country like Brazil and develop the program there?. Brazil uses nuclear energy and has an infant space program. I think they'd want to be on the forefront of something like this if someone else carried the financial burden.