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In reply to the discussion: 1.5 Years to Mars? Russia Could Do It in 1.5 Months [View all]burfman
(264 posts)Heard a lecture at NASA back sometime around 1980 by Dr. Dyson talking about project Orion. Back in the 1960's there was a seriously looked into idea - government funded - to use the blast from small atomic bombs - lots of them - to jet around the entire solar system in a big space ship - think really big - maybe ship size and fast too.. There used to be a prototype they built using TNT to demonstrate the concept in the Air and Space museum - I don't know if it's still there. The nuclear test ban treaty with the USSR (Russia) put an end to the idea.
But it would have been awesome.....people could have visited some of the planets some time in the 1970's instead of thinking of Mars a decade or two from now.
And a much better use for all those nasty bombs that we and Russia have.
Burfman.............
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_(nuclear_propulsion)