NationStates Jolt Archive


OoC: What's the smallest modern airframe one could fit a nuclear reactor on?

Chaos Experiment
02-12-2004, 07:26
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.
Chellis
02-12-2004, 08:35
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.
Chaos Experiment
02-12-2004, 12:30
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?
Praetonia
02-12-2004, 12:37
To be fair there hasnt been much research into it, so you could push the current RL envelope a little.
The Phoenix Milita
02-12-2004, 12:41
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.
Phoenixius
02-12-2004, 12:54
Hmm, but how powerful was it TPM? I might think about something like this for myself too.
The Phoenix Milita
02-12-2004, 13:06
blah (http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent/?file=PMsaucer)