Update on Project Prometheus

Aglassis writes "It appears that NASA is not backing down from their nuclear space initiative. Project Prometheus has recently started a new web page (under JPL) and NASA is finishing up a period of public comment (last session today). Currently Northrop Grumman is contracted to begin preliminary design of the spacecraft until 2008 for NASA (the reactor will be built by the Department of Energy's Division of Naval Reactors--the folks who control all US submarine and aircraft carrier nuclear reactors). Early specs are that it will be 60 meters long, have a 30,000 kg mass, use a 100 KW reactor using Brayton cycle gas turbines, be powered by ion thrusters with a 7000 second specific impulse, and have a science payload of 1500 kg. Early mission plans for Prometheus 1 (Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter) indicate that the spacecraft would orbit Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa individually, and perhaps have a lifespan of about 20 years."

Comments

Re:Oh great

[Travoltus]

"Prometheus Nuclear Systems and Technology will focus on enabling NASA missions by researching and developing nuclear sources that will provide power to innovative scientific instruments and robotic systems, large and small propulsion systems that run on electricity and high-speed communications systems. The nuclear power sources would allow us to extensively explore our closest celestial neighbor, the Moon, as well as Mars and other destinations. Eventually, these power sources would support human explorers as they travel through space and explore other worlds.

The first proposed mission within Prometheus Nuclear Systems and Technology would be a mission to Jupiter, the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO), which represents a new class of mission capabilities far beyond those possible with current power and propulsion systems. Powered by a space nuclear reactor and propelled by electric ion engines, the spacecraft would make up-close, long-term orbiting visits to three of the solar system's most intriguing moons- Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Beneath their icy surfaces, these moons may contain oceans of water that could have provided an environment that may have harbored life."

http://prometheus.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm?pageL1= mi ssions

Beats the heck out of me what that has to do with militarizing space. Besides, IMO, nuclear power is a lot less environmentally dangerous than other power sources except maybe solar energy (which might not work when you're x billion miles from the sun).

Re:Oh great

[QuantumRiff]

what do you think absorbs the readiation from the sun? (hint, its our atmosphere) that big ball in the sky that is the solar systems largest reactor (although its fusion, not fission). Honestly, do you think it's light that heats the earth? no, it radiation. Any radiation from a little spacecraft up in space is miniscule!

Re:The thing to do with Uranium

[crypto55]

In case you didn't realize, Uranium is the 8th most common material on the planet... Taking a few tons off of it won't do any good. There's enough uranium to last the damn planet for the next 2000 years at least. Don't argue with me, I researched the damn thing two months ago. :)