Frankly this whole thing seems to be based on minimal evidence and rumor. I doubt it'd be done any time, anti-nuclear sentiment is still too strong for it to happen.
I think it's a good idea but the vast majority of people are still locked in the nuclear = evil mindset.
So true. I was talking to greenpeace today... Apparently fission reactors in space would cause polloution I explained about the big shiny thing in the sky and radiation.
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As if congress will ever agree to the billions required to finance such a programme.
And ESA's mission is a Beagle 2, Mars Lander, which NASA had already accomplished quite a few times since the 70s, so it's nothing too revolutionary in the public's mind, certainly not enough to provide the political momentum for a new space race.
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For the most part, Americans think that nuclear = big explosions which cause much death. Same for radiation. The people against nuclear in space often don't know everything about it...
kojikun wrote:Slashdot reports that NASA plans to put a man on mars by 2010 using nuclear propulsion. Finally a use for the uberengines from the 60s!
This is bullshit. NASA has no projects or plans to put people on mars and no money has been allocated by Congress for that purpose.
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People who object to nuclear power in space generally don't know that its already been done. The Russians lofted a number of active nuclear reactors into space for their ocean surveillance radar satellites. Parts of one crashed into Canada in the 70's.
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I remember that satilite falling to earth, back in the 70's. Saturday Night Live did a sketch about the radiation causing 25 foot Lobsters that glow in the dark to attack New York. I particularly remember this sketch, because Roberk Klein, the quest host, talked about John Belushi being killed by lobsters in his prime, with "five or six years of life left in him", eerily predictive!
In short, multi kilowatt nuclear batteries were the norm for big Solviet Union satelites, as their solar power cells were too unreliable. (cracking during takeoff, or failure to "unfurl" properly.)They compensated with the more robust but HEAVEY nuke batteries. The Solviets still had the edge in total tonnage, single payload, orbital boost capacity, until the space shuttle came on line, especialy after we disontinued production of the Saturn IV.
Hmmmmmm.
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Exonerate wrote:For the most part, Americans think that nuclear = big explosions which cause much death. Same for radiation. The people against nuclear in space often don't know everything about it...
I think they should make a mini-documentary dismissing those stereotypical thoughts on TV, preferably a major network. Since so many Americans are couch potatoes, they'll be exposed to the truth.
Whether they accept it or not is iffy, but at least they're aware.
Exonerate wrote:For the most part, Americans think that nuclear = big explosions which cause much death. Same for radiation. The people against nuclear in space often don't know everything about it...
I think they should make a mini-documentary dismissing those stereotypical thoughts on TV, preferably a major network. Since so many Americans are couch potatoes, they'll be exposed to the truth.
Whether they accept it or not is iffy, but at least they're aware.
Probably they would dismiss it as a government plot to change the people's mindset in relation to nuclear.
EDIT:
Much like the HAARP and weather manipulations stories.
[img=left]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/ ... iggado.jpg[/img] "You know, it's odd; practically everything that's happened on any of the inhabited planets has happened on Terra before the first spaceship." -- Space Viking
Bah. Stupid hippies. Even Michio Kaku (arguably one fo the smartest people on earth) doesnt like the idea of nuclear power in space. I guess hes more fond of nuclear bombs in space rather then nuclear power plants.
And he pushes for the advance of space science!!!!!
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Exonerate wrote:For the most part, Americans think that nuclear = big explosions which cause much death. Same for radiation. The people against nuclear in space often don't know everything about it...
I think they should make a mini-documentary dismissing those stereotypical thoughts on TV, preferably a major network. Since so many Americans are couch potatoes, they'll be exposed to the truth.
Whether they accept it or not is iffy, but at least they're aware.
Like how Fox's "documentary" showed the moon landing was a hoax?
Stanley Hauerwas wrote:[W]hy is it that no one is angry at the inequality of income in this country? I mean, the inequality of income is unbelievable. Unbelievable. Why isn’t that ever an issue of politics? Because you don’t live in a democracy. You live in a plutocracy. Money rules.
I explained about the big shiny thing in the sky and radiation. 
