Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Science

sts069

(9 posts)

2. Not really

Reply to Tiggeroshii (Reply #1)

Mon Aug 12, 2019, 04:20 PM

Aug 2019

The reactor won’t even be activated until it’s in at least a stable orbit. If a problem occurs, it shuts down automatically without requiring intervention. (This happened with the only reactor flown by the U.S., back in the ‘60s; an unrelated problem was sensed by the reactor controls and the unit was shut off permanently.)

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Nuclear Reactor for Mars Outpost Could Be Ready to Fly by 2022 [View all] Judi Lynn Aug 2019 OP

That sounds dangerous. Tiggeroshii Aug 2019 #1

Not really sts069 Aug 2019 #2

It is certainly nowhere near as as dangerous as a smokestack. NNadir Aug 2019 #3

Or in other words the risk to lives is extremely minimal unless the rocket carrying the fuel was to cstanleytech Aug 2019 #4

Nuclear fuel has crashed on Earth from space vehicles on multiple occasions. NNadir Aug 2019 #5

A simple "Correct" would have sufficed :) cstanleytech Aug 2019 #6

I apologize. I'm very sorry. NNadir Aug 2019 #7

A prototype has already been tested at full power in Nevada. hunter Aug 2019 #8