I want to know,I hear[) stuff about nuclear space rockets,exactly how much time [)ifference is there between a nuclear rocket an[) a normal rocket going to Mars,or the Moon?
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the difference between a "regular" rocket and a nuclear rocket is the same as the difference between a stick of dynamite and a nuclear bomb.
The BIG difference is the amount of fuel necessary. BOTH rockets must carry all their fuel with them -- there are no "gas stations" between here and Mars. But, conventional rockets need a HUGE amount of fuel, which is very heavy. Not only must the engine push the rocket and passengers, it must ALSO push all that fuel! So, a conventional rocket is rather wasteful.
A nuclear rocket gets more power from less fuel, just like an atomic bomb makes a bigger explosion from a smaller "pellet" (actually, a small ball) of nuclear fuel. A nuclear rocket goes farther using less fuel.
But nuclear rockets are still rather inefficient. They go FARTHER, but they don't go AS FAST. A nuclear rocket takes LONGER to get to the destination than a regular rocket.
As well, with any nuclear device, there is a great danger of radiation. The crew , being close to the engine, could die from radiation poisoning. The "fix" is to make the rocket heavier due to increased radiation shielding, or to move the crew farther away from the nuclear source using a longer (and therefore heavier) rocket, like the "DIscovery" vehicle in the movie "2001".
Because of the radiation, launching a nuclear rocket from earth would not be allowed. Some argue the even the moon is too close to launch a nuclear rocket. The BEST idea is to build the rocket in orbit past the moon, and launch the rocket from there towards Mars.
The BIG difference is the amount of fuel necessary. BOTH rockets must carry all their fuel with them -- there are no "gas stations" between here and Mars. But, conventional rockets need a HUGE amount of fuel, which is very heavy. Not only must the engine push the rocket and passengers, it must ALSO push all that fuel! So, a conventional rocket is rather wasteful.
A nuclear rocket gets more power from less fuel, just like an atomic bomb makes a bigger explosion from a smaller "pellet" (actually, a small ball) of nuclear fuel. A nuclear rocket goes farther using less fuel.
But nuclear rockets are still rather inefficient. They go FARTHER, but they don't go AS FAST. A nuclear rocket takes LONGER to get to the destination than a regular rocket.
As well, with any nuclear device, there is a great danger of radiation. The crew , being close to the engine, could die from radiation poisoning. The "fix" is to make the rocket heavier due to increased radiation shielding, or to move the crew farther away from the nuclear source using a longer (and therefore heavier) rocket, like the "DIscovery" vehicle in the movie "2001".
Because of the radiation, launching a nuclear rocket from earth would not be allowed. Some argue the even the moon is too close to launch a nuclear rocket. The BEST idea is to build the rocket in orbit past the moon, and launch the rocket from there towards Mars.