The discussion centers on the feasibility of using nuclear power in jet engines, specifically through the concept of nuclear thermal jet engines and their potential application in single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) spacecraft. Participants reference the Convair X-6 program, which investigated the effects of radiation on aircraft systems rather than propulsion. The consensus indicates that while nuclear thermal jet engines could be theoretically possible, applying nuclear power to ramjets or scramjets is impractical due to the extremely short time air spends in the combustion chamber, making effective heat transfer challenging.
PREREQUISITESAerospace engineers, propulsion system designers, and researchers interested in advanced propulsion technologies and nuclear applications in aviation.
RandomGuy88 said:
FireStorm000 said:Well I'll be damned; I was aware of that program, I just didn't think they had planned to put the reactors directly in the engines.
So this could potentially empower a SSTO space craft, with a hybrid nuclear thermal jet/rocket? How cool would that be?
Bobbywhy said:Did you read the Wiki article? One sentence from it ought be enough for you to see they were not trying to propel the Bomber at all: "Its sole purpose was to investigate the effect of radiation on aircraft systems."