NationStates Jolt Archive

Yeah, I'm curious, as I'm pursuing an idea of mine. Basically, I'm asking what is the smallest possible airframe one could fit a nuclear fission reactor on without comprimising the strucural integrity of the craft too much?

Would I need something as big as a C-5? Or could I get away with something smaller?

Or are even C-5's too small?

EDIT: By the way, I WOULD be willing to make some very severe structural changes if I could fit one into the frame of a AC-135 Spectre without getting rid of the guns.

Yeah, I'm curious, as I'm pursuing an idea of mine. Basically, I'm asking what is the smallest possible airframe one could fit a nuclear fission reactor on without comprimising the strucural integrity of the craft too much?

Would I need something as big as a C-5? Or could I get away with something smaller?

Or are even C-5's too small?

EDIT: By the way, I WOULD be willing to make some very severe structural changes if I could fit one into the frame of a AC-135 Spectre without getting rid of the guns.


No such thing as an AC-135. AC-130, however, exists. The only one that has worked before, or at least tried, was on a B-36 if I remember correctly.

Ugh, so I am looking at a rather large airframe?

Ok, I can make this work...just gotta design it around the C-5, it would still be quite capable.

Also, how many people do you think would object overly much to a nuclear powered airplane as such?

To be fair there hasnt been much research into it, so you could push the current RL envelope a little.

Yeah, I'm curious, as I'm pursuing an idea of mine. Basically, I'm asking what is the smallest possible airframe one could fit a nuclear fission reactor on without comprimising the strucural integrity of the craft too much?

Would I need something as big as a C-5? Or could I get away with something smaller?

Or are even C-5's too small?

EDIT: By the way, I WOULD be willing to make some very severe structural changes if I could fit one into the frame of a AC-135 Spectre without getting rid of the guns.
one of the topaz reactor cores, from the russian space program, was about 1.2 feet high by 0.8 feet wide and wieghed 60 pounds. It had enough fuel to last for 3 years.

Hmm, but how powerful was it TPM? I might think about something like this for myself too.

blah (http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent/?file=PMsaucer)