Re: Dyson (was Re: [OT]Nukes.)

In a message dated 3/11/02 3:55:51 AM Mountain Standard Time, 
ias@sprintmail.com writes:

> > Orion was going to use nukes or hydrogen bombs to launch & propel a
very
> > large spaceship - and launch from the surface! The Atmospheric Test
Ban
> > stuffed that idea, and the more sensible proposal to start the ship
in
> > orbit was sunk by the various space weapon treaties.
> 
> The were probably buildable back then, but killed by public concern of
> nukes.  NASA is looking at the use of nukes for space propulsion
again.
> 
> 

Actually the Orion never got far enough to register on the public until
after 
it was killed. Realistically, it could be argued that for the same 
contamination of Hiroshima&Nagasaki, we could get a million tons of
space 
craft into orbit. It might even, (if you will excuse the pun please)
"fly" 
with the public.

As for the new push for Nukes in space, they are talking power reactors
and 
Nuclear electric propulsion. High power Ion and Plasma drives actually.

(Though again, if we want to go the conspiracy route.. it could all be
just 
to get power reactors for those Star Wars battle sats :o)

Randy