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Nuclear Propulsion in Space

US National Archives · documentary · Watch on YouTube

Space exploration & spaceflightNuclear power & fusion

What it is

A 1968 NASA film from the US National Archives explaining why the US needed a nuclear rocket and how the engine works. It also shows combined nuclear and chemical stages for a manned Mars mission.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN people link it as an old-timey explainer for nuclear thermal propulsion, and as evidence these engines were already built and tested.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2018, last 2020

What HN commenters said

  1. “This video is worth checking out if you haven’t seen it yet.”

    Overview of nuclear rocket propulsion and limits.

    wizardforhire, 2018-06 · Recommendation · in “The Tyranny of the Rocket Equation (2012)”

  2. “Old timey video explaining it”

    Old-timey explainer on nuclear rocket operation.

    cwojno, 2020-10 · Recommendation · in “New nuclear engine concept could help realize 3-month trips to Mars”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: nasa, nuclear rocket, mars mission, archival film, spaceflight

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