tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822805028291837738.post4798649064244804311..comments2023-12-09T03:51:33.158-05:00Comments on Various Consequences: Nuclear Rockets PetitionJoshua Stultshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506970399027046387noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822805028291837738.post-11651536687385497152013-02-23T08:55:44.116-05:002013-02-23T08:55:44.116-05:00I completed a survey on energy efficiency and alte...I completed a survey on energy efficiency and alternative energy this week. Here's the free-form comment I input at the end: <br /><i>The Air Force should make significant investment in fielding nuclear energy technology that would be suitable for supporting expeditionary operations. Technologies such as Molten Salt Reactors like Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors (LFTR), or High Temperature gas cooled Reactors (HTR) offer the near-term possibility of small, modular, safe reactor concepts that can support air-base needs. Indirect heat exchange cycles, as explored by the Air Force during the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion program, can satisfy prime mover needs in the long-term. Shielding technology, and engineering capability in general, has advanced significantly since that program was abandoned in 1961 because of the shielding mass penalty on aircraft performance. This advance is due in no small part to Air Force investment in shielding improvements for Particle Bed Reactors under the Space Nuclear Thermal Propulsion program in the early 1990s (and the prior Timberwind program).<br /><br />Nuclear energy is a safe, secure energy source that is millions of times more powerful than hydrocarbon-based energy sources. The logistics 'tail' needed to support nuclear power sources is minuscule compared to the long logistics train needed to support fossil fuel based operations. Such long logistics trains are vulnerable to attack from our enemies, and political gamesmanship from our allies.<br /><br />The time for a 'Nuclear Air Force' is now.</i>Joshua Stultshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506970399027046387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822805028291837738.post-55664556546823654632013-01-22T12:44:20.560-05:002013-01-22T12:44:20.560-05:00An article in Forbes about public perceptions of r...An article in Forbes about public perceptions of radiation, by way of <a href="http://energyfromthorium.com/2013/01/22/recent-radiation/" rel="nofollow">Energy from Thorium</a>, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2013/01/20/fear-of-radiation-its-all-in-the-noise/" rel="nofollow">Fear Of Radiation -- It's All In The Noise</a>Joshua Stultshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506970399027046387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822805028291837738.post-50794391620071586372013-01-14T17:49:23.006-05:002013-01-14T17:49:23.006-05:00Hi Igor, Thanks for your comment; I saw your post ...Hi Igor, Thanks for your comment; I saw <a href="http://nuit-blanche.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-technical-side-of-nuclear-rockets.html" rel="nofollow">your post</a> on the rss feed. Thanks for the hat tip.Joshua Stultshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506970399027046387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822805028291837738.post-18483391793800071672013-01-14T08:06:35.579-05:002013-01-14T08:06:35.579-05:00Thanks to your blog entry, I got me to finish one ...Thanks to your blog entry, I got me to finish one on the subject:<br /><br />The Technical Side of the Nuclear Rockets Option<br /><br />http://nuit-blanche.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-technical-side-of-nuclear-rockets.html<br /><br />Igor.Igorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17474880327699002140noreply@blogger.com