On Mon, 4 Feb 2008 15:59:40 +0000 (UTC), jdnicoll@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(James Nicoll)
wrote:
> What treaties apply to the use of nuclear propulsion in space?
Orion drives are Right Out under the atmospheric test ban treaty (even if
you don't light them up until you're in deep space) and probably the Outer
Space Treaty.
I don't believe that there are any treaties that have anything specific to
say about nuclear-thermal or nuclear-electric propulsion. The Outer Space
Treaty and the Test Ban Treaties, in particular, do *not* prohibit nuclear
*reactors*, even very powerful reactors directly coupled to rockets, no
matter how many times that claim is made by people whose brains shut down
immediately after seeing the word "nuclear".
--
*John Schilling * "Anything worth doing, *
*Member:AIAA,NRA,ACLU,SAS,LP * is worth doing for money" *
*Chief Scientist & General Partner * -13th Rule of Acquisition *
*White Elephant Research, LLC * "There is no substitute *
*John.Schilling@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
* for success" *
*661-951-9107 or 661-275-6795 * -58th Rule of Acquisition *
|
