Heated discussion on space activity

John · Senior Member

RE: Heated discussion on space activity

Andrew · Senior Member

Actually, the Chinese are currently operating a small helium-cooled pebble-bed reactor, as part of research into future power generation reactors.

Not the same as actually trying to get propellent running around the reactor.

An a very practical approach to dealing with the opposition!

Only if your opposition is unreasonable, has an invalid argument and needs you to respond to further their goals.

Environmental concern is a valid thing, just not when the environmentalists forget that.

When China is read to go to nuclear space propulsion they would have to deal with that sort opposition.

No, they would have to deal with an international community asking them what the hell are they doing.

10kBq Jaro · Senior Member

Andrew wrote:

Actually, the Chinese are currently operating a small helium-cooled pebble-bed reactor, as part of research into future power generation reactors.

Not the same as actually trying to get propellent running around the reactor.

True, its not the same.

The main difference is that the pumps needed to feed propellant into the reactor/engine have to deal with LH2, instead of high-pressure helium, which is circulated using compressors driven by turbines.

But the LH2 cryopumps are the same kind used in existing launchers (for example the third stage of the Long March 3).

So this is a false reason why China couldn't build NTRs right now.

John · Senior Member

No, they would have to deal with an international community asking them what the hell are they doing.
I suppose they will tell them launching a nuclear powered spacecraft! smile

10kBq Jaro · Senior Member

John wrote:

No, they would have to deal with an international community asking them what the hell are they doing.
I suppose they will tell them launching a nuclear powered spacecraft!

Or how about "launching an attack on Taiwan, to create a workers' paradise, just like in the People's Republic" ?

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Andrew · Senior Member

So this is a false reason why China couldn't build NTRs right now.

The question isn't can or cannot. Project Rover was done almost a half a century ago. It's "will or won't". There are political reasons why won't nobody do a NTR.

Or how about "launching an attack on Taiwan, to create a workers' paradise, just like in the People's Republic" ?

I think some of the international community will faint. That is not a line you want to hear.

John · Senior Member

The question isn't can or cannot. Project Rover was done almost a half a century ago. It's "will or won't". There are political reasons why won't nobody do a NTR.

There are political reason why the U.S. won't do a NTR (as well as technical) for in atmosphere propulsion. I won't total rule us out of it for LEO to Mars, etc. My though is that when China is the world number on power thirty or forty years from now you can't rule out what they will do. It as very unlikey path for them in the near future.

I rather doubt that the will attack Taiwan because it is only a matter of time that Taiwan will want to more closer to them anyway. But, if they did make such a more in the near term they would most likey prompt Japan to develop nuclear weapons and might even get in a shooting war with the U.S.