
	Where results make sense

Topic: Radioisotope rocket

Related Topics

Poodle thruster

Spacecraft propulsion

Nuclear thermal rocket

Rocket propulsion

Solar thermal rocket

Tripropellant rocket

Antimatter rocket

Fusion rocket

Arcjet rocket

Ion thruster

Nuclear pulse propulsion

Antimatter catalyzed nuclear pulse propulsion

Redshift rocket

Gaseous fission reactor

Pulsed plasma thruster

	radioisotope - Hutchinson encyclopedia article about radioisotope
		Most radioisotopes are made by bombarding a stable element with neutrons in the core of a nuclear reactor (see fission).
		The radiations given off by radioisotopes are easy to detect (hence their use as tracers), can in some instances penetrate substantial thicknesses of materials, and have profound effects (such as genetic mutation) on living matter.
		Radioisotopes have many uses in medicine, for example in radiotherapy and radioisotope scanning.
	encyclopedia.farlex.com /radioisotope (241 words)

	Spacecraft propulsion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		All current spacecraft use chemical rocket (bipropellant or solid-fuel) for launch, though some (such as the Pegasus rocket and SpaceShipOne) have used air-breathing engines on their first stage.
		The speed ratio of a rocket nozzle is mostly determined by its area expansion ratio—the ratio of the area of the throat to the area at the exit.
		Rockets emitting plasma can potentially carry out reactions inside a magnetic bottle and release the plasma via a magnetic nozzle, so that no solid matter need come in contact with the plasma.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Rocket_engine (3276 words)

	Glossary of Aerospace Terms
		A rocket fuel comprised of 60% UDMH and 40% diethylene-triamine.
		A rocket engine in which thrust is obtained from the acceleration of a plasma with crossed electrical and magnetic fields.
		A self-luminous celestial body consisting of a mass of gas held together by its own gravity in which the energy generated by nuclear reactions in the interior is balanced by the outflow of energy to the surface, and the inward-directed gravitational forces are balanced by the outward-directed gas and radiation pressures.
	www.geocities.com /jpadfield13/terms.html (10376 words)

	Rocket (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Monopropellant rocket A monopropellant rocket (or " monoprop rocket ") is a catalyst.
		Nova rocket The Nova rocket was a rocket proposed as a successor to the Mars.
		Radioisotope rocket The radioisotope rocket is a type of NERVA, but are considerably simpler and often have no moving pa...
	www.brainyencyclopedia.com /topics/rocket.html (1794 words)

	Spacecraft propulsion
		All current spacecraft use chemical rocket engines (bipropellant or solid-fuel) for launch.
		The reaction mass is then allowed to escape from the rear of the vehicle by passing through a de Laval nozzle, which dramatically accelerates the reaction mass, converting thermal energy into kinetic energy.
		Rockets emitting gases are limited by the fact that their exhaust temperature cannot be so high that the nozzle and reaction chamber are damaged; most large rockets have elaborate cooling systems to prevent damage to either component.
	www.sciencedaily.com /encyclopedia/spacecraft_propulsion_1 (2686 words)

	Nuclear Power in Space
		These efforts resulted in the first radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which are nuclear power generators built specifically for space and special terrestrial uses.
		In an RTG, the radioisotopic fuel heats one of these junctions while the other junction remains unheated and is cooled by space.
		Radioisotopes producing more penetrating radiation, such as beta or gamma particles, would be more difficult to handle safely and would require heavier shielding, a distinct drawback on space missions.
	www.nuc.umr.edu /nuclear_facts/spacepower/spacepower.html (4397 words)

	The Testimony of Dr. Edward J. Weiler
		Once the fuel is expended, the rocket is jettisoned, and the spacecraft begins its expedition by coasting along a fixed path to its final destination in space.
		Radioisotope power sources are currently powering the Ulysses spacecraft as it voyages around the Sun’s poles, and the Galileo and Cassini spacecraft both use radioisotope power systems to study the Jupiter and Saturn systems, respectively (Cassini will arrive at Saturn in July 2004).
		Whereas space chemical propulsion is the “drag racer,” rocketing straight ahead at high speeds in a matter of seconds, the nuclear-electric-propelled spacecraft is more like a 4-cylinder car that is capable of efficiently using its fuel for an extended period of time during a tour of the United States.
	www.globalsecurity.org /space/library/congress/2003_h/030603-weiler.htm (2887 words)

	Stretching the Boundaries of Nuclear Technology (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Radioisotopes have been used for decades in commercial applications, such as pacemakers and smoke detectors, and recent trends indicate that other applications are on the horizon.
		In contrast, chemical rockets tend to run at high thrust for short times, accelerating rapidly as the rocket fires and then coasting between necessary adjustments in trajectory.
		Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) are used in many applications, including underwater power and lighting in remote locations, such as the Arctic (Lange and Mastal, 1994).
	www.nae.edu /nae/bridgecom.nsf/weblinks/MKEZ-5HUQ7J?OpenDocument (2758 words)

	Radioisotope rocket (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		They are similar in nature to the nuclear thermal rockets such as NERVA, but are considerablysimpler and often have no moving parts.
		The basic idea is a development of existing radioisotope thermoelectric generator, or RTG, systems, in which the heat generatedby decaying nuclear fuel is used to generate power.
		In the rocket application the generator is removed, and the working fluid isinstead used to produce thrust directly.
	www.therfcc.org /radioisotope-rocket-117059.html (324 words)

	[No title]
		Radioisotopes have been used successfully for more than 25 years to supply the heat for thermoelectric generators on various deep-space probes.
		The only saving grace for high specific mass powerplants is that for a low rocket in fieldfree space, the thrust time during which a given distance is covered is proportional to the powerplant specific mass to the one-third power.
		Because of their low specific mass, both the radioisotope thermophotovoltaic (RTPV) and alkali metal thermal-to-electric conversion (AMTEC) generators are potential candidates for the ARPS on the proposed Pluto-Kuiper Express mission, depicted here in an artist's conception (hown is Pluto and Charo).
	www.ulb.ac.be /polytech/smana/NEWS/ionique_NN/NN_nov99_p36.html (4133 words)

	S/R 13: Nuclear Madness in Space
		January's explosion on launch of a Delta II rocket at the Kennedy Space Center—in which Florida residents as far off as Vero Beach, l00 miles away, were told to remain indoors to avoid falling debris after that mishap—is an example of what could occur with a Cassini launch accident.
		Cassini's plutonium is not to be used for propulsion but as fuel in three Radioisotope Thermal Generators (RTG's) to produce a modest 745 watts of electricity—the amount seven light bulbs need—for the instruments on the space probe.
		Radioisotope power systems have been used for three decades and are proven, reliable, and maintenance-free power supplies that are capable of producing up to several kilowatts of electricity for tens of years...
	www.greens.org /s-r/13/13-22.html (2073 words)

	Planetary spacecraft
		With all the measures in place, the temperature on the craft's surfaces was still expected to reach 2,500 degrees C. special thermal protection made of vanadium was designed to shield the probe's internal systems.
		According to the plan, in 1995-96, the Proton rocket would send a 2-ton spacecraft toward Jupiter, where the planet's powerful gravity field would "sling shot" the probe back toward the Sun in the so-called gravity-assisted maneuver.
		As it was passing Jupiter, the cameras onboard the spacecraft were expected to conduct observations of Jupiter and its moons and a descent capsule with science instruments would be ejected into Jupiter's atmosphere.
	www.russianspaceweb.com /spacecraft_planetary_plans.html (617 words)

	Method of fabricating a rocket thrust chamber - US Patent 5613299 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Hollow liner sections of a platinum group metal or alloy are inserted into a chamber barrel portion to form the combustion chamber, connecting into a conical portion, a venturi throat and into a second conical portion, forming an expansion nozzle exit of the chamber.
		More particularly, the invention is directed to high temperature thrust chambers for relatively small rocket engines generally of about 5-100 pounds of thrust which are difficult to cool regeneratively.
		The present invention is directed to a refractory metal one-piece thrust chamber for use in a bi-propellant rocket engine employing, for example, hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants.
	www.patentstorm.us /patents/5613299.html (2803 words)

	ipedia.com: Spacecraft propulsion Article (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		can be calculated using the rocket equation, where M is the mass of fuel, P is the mass of the payload (including the rocket structure), and is the specific impulse of the rocket.
		A rocket engine accelerates its reaction mass by heating it, giving hot high-pressure gas or plasma.
		Rather than relying on high temperature and fluid dynamics to accelerate the reaction mass to high speeds, there are a variety of methods that use electrostatic or electromagnetic forces to accelerate the reaction mass directly.
	www.ipedia.com /spacecraft_propulsion_1.html (2670 words)

	Radioisotope rocket -- Facts, Info, and Encyclopedia article (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		They are similar in nature to the (additional info and facts about nuclear thermal rocket) nuclear thermal rockets such as (Emperor of Rome who introduced a degree of freedom after the repressive reign of Domitian; adopted Trajan as his successor (30-98)) NERVA, but are considerably simpler and often have no moving parts.
		The basic idea is a development of existing (additional info and facts about radioisotope thermoelectric generator) radioisotope thermoelectric generator, or RTG, systems, in which the heat generated by decaying nuclear fuel is used to generate power.
		In April 1965 they ran their testbed engine for 65 hours at about 1500°C, producing a specific impulse of 650 to 700 lbf·s/lb (6.5 to 7 kN·s/kg).
	www.absoluteastronomy.com /encyclopedia/r/ra/radioisotope_rocket.htm (254 words)

	NuclearSpace: Facts About RTG Misconceptions
		To provide power for the instrumentation and experimental equipment on each spacecraft, Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) use thermocouples to convert the heat generated from the radioactive decay of non-weapons grade plutonium-238 into electricity.
		Current testing and analysis show this upper stage to be a much less volatile rocket than the Centaur liquid-fueled upper stage planned for the 1986 launch.
		In fact, films show that the IUS rocket in the Challenger's cargo bay survived the explosion relatively intact, and fell into the ocean without igniting or exploding.
	www.nuclearspace.com /facts_about_rtg.htm (767 words)

	NS&T : Space : Future
		In a gas core nuclear rocket the propellant is passed through a plasma (or superheated, gas-like state) of radioactive material that is kept in a compressed state so that it stays critical (the radioactive material is close enough to sustain a nuclear chain reaction).
		In one of the most promising designs for a gas-core rocket engine, strong magnetic fields keep the fissioning material in a doughnut-shaped field and the propellant gas is passed through the hole, where it heats up to tremendous temperatures.
		You could launch a space ship with a standard chemical rocket and, once successfully in orbit, the reactor system could be turned on, brought critical and the ship would then proceed under the tremendous power of the gas-core rocket.
	www.aboutnuclear.org /view.cgi?fC=Space,Future (879 words)

	Radioisotope (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Japan Radioisotope Association Established in 1951 as an organization of radioisotope users and research workers to contribute to progress in science and technology, and to promote industry and the economy.
		Polatom - Radioisotope Centre Polish producer of radioactive materials for: medicine, science, industry, environmental protection.
		MDS Nordion Radioisotope technology used to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.
	www.serebella.com /encyclopedia/article-Radioisotope.html (215 words)

	Untitled
		When you read that the chance of a rocket exploding is 1 in 30 or 1 in a million, pay no attention to it.
		When someone tells you that the chance of a rocket blowing up is "whatever," it is an estimate based on a small number of launches.
		Their danger is not from the plutonium, but from the rocket itself.
	www.mcn.org /c/irapilgrim/env10.html (1431 words)

	Nuclear Reactors for Space
		Radioisotope power sources have been used in space since 1961.
		The high decay heat of Plutonium-238 (0.56 W/g) enables its use as an electricity source in the RTGs of spacecraft, satellites, navigation beacons, etc. Heat from the oxide fuel is converted to electricity through static thermoelectric elements (solid-state thermocouples), with no moving parts.
		The Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) is based on a 55-watt electric converter powered by one GPHS unit.
	www.uic.com.au /nip82.htm (2208 words)

	Planetary Society Headline for 06.23.99
		The Cassini rocket is carrying 32 kg (72 lbs.) of plutonium on board - the most ever launched into space.
		RTGs are small power systems which are not to be confused with nuclear reactors; they produce energy by making use of the radioactive decay of the Plutonium 238 (Pu-238) isotope which produces heat, and in turn this is converted into electricity by the solid-sate thermoelectric converters onboard.
		While selecting the radioisotope fuel, it was important to note certain characteristics: If the radioisotope has too short a half-life, it won't be useful for missions like Cassini, which is scheduled to last 11 years.
	www.planetary.org /html/news/articlearchive/headlines/1999/headln-062399.html (1005 words)

	[No title] (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Update on Nuclear powered and reactionless rockets 1998 and Alpha-electric and Nuclear-electric rockets 1999 by Warren D. Smith it appears the former reprot was "scooped".
		He also invented the same idea I had that it could provide electric power as well as propulsion, and also was aware of the idea that many atoms emit more than one alpha particle (multi decay chains)...
		This should provide significantly higher performance than the plain alpha rocket, if it works - but the likelihood of it working is less than the (high) likelihood of the alpha rocket working.
	www.math.temple.edu /~wds/homepage/forward.sail (348 words)

	[FPSPACE] a colleague of mine responds to the question of the Nuclear Sysytems Initiative..
		The power to weight ratio of radioisotope systems is much too low for them to be other than low-power, er, power (or heat) sources.
		Fusion rockets are probably closer than antimatter ones, and fusion is still way over the horizon.
		So, if you want to go beyond chemical rockets for manned spacecraft, fission-based nuclear thermal is really the only available choice now and for a good number of years to come.
	www.friends-partners.org /pipermail/fpspace/2003-January/006994.html (581 words)

	NS site:SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN SPACE NUCLEAR OPERATIONS
		Space Nuclear Technology (U.S. nuclear rocket engine program: Project Rover/NERVA) and the Department Of Energy (DOE) had its beginnings in Los Alamos 1955, with those that advocated nuclear rocket studies the group known as the "Rover Boys".
		Initial applications considered were for aircraft applications, but when NASA was established, the shift in interest to rocket propulsion was established as its future course (Project Rover/NERVA lasted till 1973).
		Decisions are not made in an EIS; rather, an EIS is one of several factors decision makers must consider when deciding between various alternatives for a program or mission.
	www.nuclearspace.com /A_RTG_DOEVIEW2_FIN.htm (4485 words)

	Risking the World:Nuclear Proliferation in Space
		Work proceeded secretly through the 1980s, at a cost of $800 million, on development of rockets propelled by nuclear power to loft "giant weapons and other military payloads into space." (18) From the start, scientists calculated the risk in lives and took the gamble.
		A flight-test of a nuclear rocket, code-named Timberwind, was planned, mostly across Antarctica to avoid areas of human population, but the route also took the rocket over New Zealand.
		With a Timberwind rocket, a booster rocket to hoist large payloads in outer space, we are talking about the ultimate goal of all of this madness.
	southmovement.alphalink.com.au /commentaries/risk.htm (3984 words)

	Appendices - Nuclear Thermal Propulsion
		Nuclear Thermal Rocket: A space propulsion concept technique in which the heat from a nuclear fission reactor is used to raise the temperature of the propellant, which is then expanded through a nozzle to provide thrust.
		Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator: Self-contained power system in which a radioisotope is used to heat one junction in a circuit containing dissimilar metals, thus generating sustained electricity.
		It is the ratio of the pounds of thrust produced by the engine, minus the drag from the engine, per pounds of fuel flowing through the engine each second.
	www.fas.org /nuke/space/c09apend.htm (1060 words)

	Radioisotope Rocket Encyclopedia Article, Definition, History, Biography (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Looking For radioisotope rocket - Find radioisotope rocket and more at Lycos Search.
		Find radioisotope rocket - Your relevant result is a click away!
		Look for radioisotope rocket - Find radioisotope rocket at one of the best sites the Internet has to offer!
	www.karr.net /search/encyclopedia/Radioisotope_rocket (497 words)

	Aeronautics and Astronautics Chronology, 1959
		January 19: The AEC demonstrated a 5-watt radioisotope thermoelectric generator (designated SNAP 3) to President Eisenhower as an example of the potential use of radioisotopes and static thermoelectric conversion for providing long-lived electric power for space.
		November 10: Five-stage sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Island to an altitude of 1,050 miles to measure density of electrons in upper atmosphere.
		This compared with the some 400 U.S. research rockets fired during the entire preceding 12-year period from the beginning of high-altitude rocket research circa 1945 to July 1, 1957.
	www.hq.nasa.gov /office/pao/History/Timeline/1959.html (6325 words)

Try your search on: Qwika (all wikis)