Asri-unix.1336
net.space
utzoo!decvax!cca!Hamilton.ES@PARC-MAXC@sri-unix
Mon Apr 26 12:39:47 1982
Re: Another Saturn V query; Nuclear Power in Space
(1) The "exhaust plume...about from the top of the
first stage" is a shock wave rather than an exhaust plume.

(2) When we talk about "nuclear electric power" in space, it's
important to distinguish between RTG's and reactors.  As far as
I know, the U.S. has never orbited a reactor such as the Soviet
one that broke up over Canada.  U.S. outer planet probes use Radioisotopic
Thermoelectric Generators, which are completely passive devices
that use the thermoelectric effect to convert heat differences
directly into electricity.  I'm sure they operate at far lower
temperatures than does any reactor core.

--Bruce


-----------------------------------------------------------------
 gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen <jgoerzen@complete.org>
 of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/


This Usenet Oldnews Archive
article may be copied and distributed freely, provided:

1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles.

2. The following notice remains appended to each copy:

The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 
 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.