From time to time I post summaries of science magazines in the off topic forums. This month's popular Mechanics has an article on a UAV powered by a new type of portable nuclear reactor that does not use fusion of fission. It uses a quantum reaction of X ray excited hafnium. The article talks about the UAV which will fly soon but also about other airplanes. I believe that the reactor could power space ships with some modifications to the basic schemes. I also thought that would be of interest to people who like science fiction, space, and space games. so I am posting a notice here for those who are interested to go to the cool and refreshing forum if they want to read it (and no it was not the april fools issue.)
It could power an ion engine of more power than currently practical with standard power schemes. Or heat a working fluid to use as rocket exhaust. not mentioning any fringe science propulsion schemes.
Topic: new nuclear reactor design to fly soon (Read 933 times)