Nuclear Rocket (Noun)
Meaning
A rocket engine in which a nuclear reactor is used to heat a propellant.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The nuclear rocket was a promising technology for deep space missions due to its high specific impulse and long-term operation capabilities.
- NASA's nuclear rocket program was canceled in the early 1970s due to concerns about the safety and environmental impact of nuclear reactors in space.
- The nuclear rocket engine uses a nuclear reactor to heat a propellant such as hydrogen, which is then expelled through a nozzle to generate thrust.
- One of the main challenges in developing a nuclear rocket is designing a cooling system that can efficiently transfer heat from the reactor to the propellant.
- The use of a nuclear rocket could potentially allow for faster and more efficient travel to other planets in the solar system.