WI The Partial Test Ban Treaty Altered

[Jbenuniv]

My question is, what if the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963 included a provision allowing the use of nuclear explosives for spacecraft propulsion, as in Project Orion, which was killed by the treaty.

 

[NapoleonXIV]

Then one of the sillier ideas for near light speed travel would still be around, tho I don't know who would be willing to be the astronauts.

Sorry, but I just always saw this as nothing more than a waste of lots of good uranium. You're wasting, what, like at least 75% of the energy, and there's no way you're telling me it's not dangerous as hell.

 

[Jbenuniv]

It seems like one of the better ideas for nukes. It really isn't dangerous to the astronauts. You've got a yards thick plate between you and the explosion, and you can have as much shielding as you want. It is technically feasible, and cheap as hell to boot.

check out the article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_(nuclear_propulsion)