NASA Is FINALLY Building A Nuclear Engine

[@DeadDrop6109]

Doctor: "So you saw a plane flying without a propeller?....and who was flying it?" Witness: ....the pilot. Too fuzzy to tell 😁

[@3RAN7ON]

It was bigfoot

[@arandomcommenter412]

I forgor

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

Bigfoot IS fuzzy!

[@danieltemelkovski9828]

"You're telling me you were abducted by humanoids with bug eyes...in a plane bigger than a 747 but shaped like a saucer...who flew you to outer space? You can hear yourself, right?"

[@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman]

​@@danieltemelkovski9828 😅

[@gradeabrandon186]

Isn’t weird to think there could’ve been an alternate reality where NERVA worked out and there are people on Mars already

[@anydaynow01]

That was a really good season, with a crazy twist as to who got to Mars first!

[@jessepollard7132]

NERVA/KIWI did work. all the way to doing flight configuration tests. But it was all thrown away. and international treaties signed that forbid the use of NTR in space.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

​@@jessepollard7132 And space is FULL of natural nuclear reactors everywhere lightening up the place so radiation is hardly a problem with an engine as long as you avoid using a nuclear engine in the atmosphere.

[@squirlmy]

@@jessepollard7132 "Worked out" is an English language idiom which means something different to "worked". Actually it has two other separate definitions if you include it's meaning as exercise. I don't know if it's an "Americanism", but I'm not sure how you wouldn't be familiar if English id your native language. I think your upvoters are just not looking closely at the OP's phrase. I guess your correction "worked out", even if it doesn't quite work! ;)

[@robonator2945]

buh buh, nucwear scawy! :'(

[@Sir_Uncle_Ned]

That gorilla costume idea was genius! It wouldn't work now because it's public knowledge, but at the time it was absolutely brilliant.

[@JadeDragon407]

And having the site psychologist in on it, man... people had to been losing it. They wonder why we don't trust the gov, pfffffffffffffffff

[@vale_recca]

Nowadays Pilots dressed up as little green man.

[@LazyIndieGamer]

They just say UFO these days

[@40watt_club]

Replace the gorilla with Donald T. and it might work again

[@1112viggo]

I don´t think most actually doubted what they saw, but i certainly understand why no one would insist upon it being real when questioned by a psychologist at work.

[@angelpenarolo7408]

6:39 THE NUCLEAR ROCKET FROM KSP. As someone who has played ksp for a long time, im really hyped for this engine. I cant remember the last time i went interplanetary in ksp without a nuclear engine. Nuclear engines make interplanetary so much easier.

[@intothevortex]

What happen to.the FUSION reactor engine

[@ASlickNamedPimpback]

@@intothevortex thatll take us a century to get, shit aint cheap or easy

[@WildmanTrading]

​@@ASlickNamedPimpbackOkay that's a similar time between the Wright flyer and F-22

[@WildmanTrading]

I'm pretty sure the "NERV" engine used a rocket engine mixed with a nuclear thermal generator. I'm not confident in this though.

[@ASlickNamedPimpback]

@@WildmanTrading NERVA but yeah, and they did it in the 60's and it was all nuclear thermal

[@davelowman3574]

The nerva project had a 100% tested working engine, using this concept. That was more than 40 years ago so with modern updates. There's two ways the engine can produce thrust. Either cleanly with no radiation leakage or leaving a wake of fallout. Also without any oxygen on board for fuel the design is very stable in comparison. They should have been flying many years ago.

[@MatthewHelms-q4l]

US and Russia both developed better tech and kept it secret. Hopefully they'll reveal it before 2030.

[@1MarkKeller]

"Okay, so you're telling me that you saw a luminous tic tac shaped object that didn't have a propeller or jet intakes or exhausts hovering around and then moving very quickly away from your Super hornet fighter jet ... You can hear yourself right now, yes?"

[@gameknight.thump1]

XD yeah...

[@TheRotnflesh]

Funny enough, that's what modern AF pilots are seeing: tic-tac shaped white/silver objects moving at hypersonic speeds.

[@vanleeuwenhoek]

Joe's video on these 'phenomena' does a convincing job covering it up as lighting/lensing artifacts.

[@Archangels1]

He was playing Pong on his “ heads up” display, drunk at 4 g’s.

[@Archangels1]

@@TheRotnflesh why don’t they see Certs or Pez shaped object?

[@THX..1138]

NERVA was shut down for political reasons, otherwise it was basically ready for space when the program ended...IDK if the DRACO timescale is really feasible, but chances are high most of the engineering hurtles were completed with NERVA. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the DARCO engine is almost a direct copy of NERVA as the design was well proven. So 4 years for a working prototype may not be impossible.

[@bradleyhoward9638]

At any rate I'm sure all that work is a massive contribution. It would be awesome for this to finally become a reality especially for anyone that worked on it is still around to see that come to fruition.

[@donscheid97]

You have a point. I think the most time consuming part will be testing the more advanced modern materials we now have to decide what to make the parts from. They might want to kidnap some of SpaceX's engineers for this.

[@CativaCookie]

@@donscheid97 Seeing as they are teaming up with DARPA on this one, I think its more likely that SpaceX would try to nab some of their engineers instead.

[@Hellman2746]

I consider any attempt to transport humans to Mars using current rocket tech a criminal waste of money and effort. Use the absolute rocket tech to reach Moon if you want to but using it to reach should be a strict NO NO. Instead, all our efforts and money should be put into creating new/useful rocket tech like Nuclear engines or Ion engines. If you cannot reach Mars within 40-45 days, then it should not be done.

[@RobVollat]

I believe that further development into AI technologies will allow us to develop other advanced technologies in a 10th the time, or less, than it takes us today (or yesterday, hard to tell).

[@Max_Marz]

Mars in 45 days deserves a moment of silence to echo. Holy fuck that is an incredibly powerful thought to sit with. The kind of thing only Carl Sagan can put into words.

[@zonnytiger2371]

even if that guy's idea doesnt work out the 100 days from the upcoming engine is still crazy

[@johntr1x912]

My mind can't comprehend that number

[@How23497]

Covering 55 million kilometres in 45 days is insane to even think about

[@michaeldunne338]

@@zonnytiger2371 Yes, 100 days to Mars starts making the concept of interplanetary flight look feasible.

[@milosstojanovic4623]

@@michaeldunne338 its already feasible but not doable because amount of fuel needed is too much. When they make "compact" fusion for rockets then it gonna be considered. That pulse or other type of nuclear propelled rockets are already considered, and they did the math, but its amount of fuel thats the main problem, and if they push the rocket to very high speeds, stopping them is also a problem.

[@zacharythomas6168]

Hey Joe, just a note on specific impulse. It's not a time, it just simplifies to seconds when you cancel all the units. It's a measure of how much impulse (momentum) the rocket's fluid delivers per unit mass.

[@oeliamoya9796]

Yeah but it helps laymen understand a rocket's comparative performance. The ol' apples to apples while not getting into how some rockets are optimized for sea level or in a vacuum and to use a rocket outside of it's optimal altitude will drastically affect the rocket's designed specific impulse. (Which is why rocket's destined for space but launched from sea level have 2-3 stages)

[@forgotaboutbre]

In 2009 for my capstone project in my Aerospace Engineering bachelor's program we used a Nuclear Thermal Engine in our mission design. They braught a guy in from NASA to evaluate our presentations. When we made our presentation the NASA guy literally laughed in our faces at the suggestion of using a nuclear rocket. After all of these years I am finally vindicated.

[@ALTruckerDad]

The fact that NERVA was so close is likely how they expect to get the new one out so quickly. But as you say, time will tell.

[@Flavio010295]

You have a very good point. Maybe they have it working already, just needs to update to project and materials

[@rgerber]

The 'Clone' episode will probably always be my favorite. I still wonder if Joe's clones are still in his basement, or even if this is real Joe or some evolved clone of himself.

[@williamchamberlain2263]

Ah, the clones. Probably all grown up now

[@WilliamRWarrenJr]

Hey, be sensitive to their feelings! *CLONES ARE PEOPLE TWO!*

[@mtrps_]

wheezy waiter tings

[@lindaseel9986]

This is a clone. Remember, a clone reads from the script,? That's why he had trouble pronouncing the program and fuel names. 😂

[@ponyote]

Send in the clones!

[@mycosys]

Are you at all disappointed they didnt go for Modern Iteration Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications?

[@sirnikkel6746]

Ah, yes, the nuke goddess

[@Destroyer_V0]

Yes, Minerva not being used is sadness. FAAAr better acronym.

[@TheJrr71]

"That's... how you acronym."

[@biazacha]

Yeah but if that was the case we couldn’t make “my father will hear about this” memes and that would be a huge loss.

[@Aengus42]

MINERVA To Whit: To Woosh! 🦉

[@wolf1066]

12:02 - love the way Joe went from quoting the projected Specific Impulse range of an Orion-type spacecraft to pointing at a launch of the Space Shuttle and a deadpan "four hundred and fifty."

[@codyjacobs6899]

It might be ambitious, but as long as they're willing to move the timeline for the sake of safety then it keeps them working hard on it I think.

[@DannyJoh]

Anyone else impressed that this dude could fly an experimental jet airplane wearing that bulky suit?

[@noahpollard9713]

Someone explain to me how this comment is 11 hours old but, the video is only 17 minutes old.

[@OldManShoutsAtClouds]

​@@noahpollard9713 I'm guessing channel members get videos earlier

[@Alucard-gt1zf]

@@noahpollard9713 patreon members can watch videos before they are released to the public

[@TheMordano]

​@@noahpollard9713 Joe is always announcing this feature in the end of each video. If you are a channel member, you get early access to the videos besides other benefits :)

[@alexbuckle1085]

Absolutely, imagine how hot he must have been.

[@Gamingawesomeness121]

Awesomely done documentary as always btw, keep it up.

[@Viper-dn8ix]

Got to hear DARPA, NASA, Lockheed and Rolls Royce talk about this at the annual Space Symposium today. Super cool concept and the fact that it can shave MONTHS off the flight profile to Mars is insane.

[@Gecmajster123456]

your nasa could not even come up with Re-useable Rockets / now Nuclear rocket? ! suuuuuurely

[@java4653]

"Insane". LOL. This isn't even a full thought, just "Wow!" over the bizarre fantasy that Mars will be colonized. The MuskCult is so stupid.

[@java4653]

​@@Gecmajster123456NASA developed that tech as a proof of concept in the 90's, sweetie. Holy moly the MuskCult is so pathetic & hostile to anything true or real.

[@SuperCatacata]

​@@Gecmajster123456You bots are going to be running out of excuses when it actually happens. This is inevitable tech of the future.

[@mastequila90prof]

Have you heard of the simi valley nuclear disaster in 1959? The Santa Susana Field Lab was a nuclear testing site for America’s space exploration programs from 1948 until 2006. In July 1959, it suffered a partial nuclear meltdown. They were testing a plane powered by nuclear rockets.

[@JoyoSnooze]

I wasn't sure about the new setup/backdrop initially. Not sure why. But I'm converted after watching this. It looks amazing. Spacious, but mellow. Adds depths to the video. Anyway. Thanks for all you do, Joe

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

FWIW: The first time I ever read about _Project Orion_ was in the book *THE LOST WORLDS OF 2OO1* by Arthur C Clark. That book detailed how the novel version of *2OO1: A SPACE ODYSSEY* came about, and included some information about the movie. Clarke wanted the _USS Discovery_ to be an Orion-type vehicle, but for various reasons the idea was abandoned for the movie.

[@aradhomeslice]

The new setup is excellent. Almost like it was always that way. Nice job, Joe!!

[@kylekirkparick426]

This is so interesting. I love learning about stuff like this. Thanks for doing everything that you do.

[@SeanLynchXY]

Thanks!

[@pelewads]

I really do love your channel. A huge thank you to you, and all of your crew. I have a small request. When you reference previous videos, could you please drop a link, in the description? Again, thanks for what you do.

[@__-pl3jg]

So nuclear pulsed propulsion is basically like rocket jumping in video games 🚀💥

[@m0zzar353]

ya but to sad this isnt nuclear pulse propulsion

[@MrJugNut]

No, no, no they use a special kind of cheese in the rocket, you know that haleu cheese the stuff you toast in a frying pan? So you know it's perfect for spacecraft plus as a bonus they get free snacks on their journey through the stars. It's a Win, win right? 👍

[@matthewcalifana488]

@@MrJugNut I am all for it my only problem is cheese & eggs sticking 2 the frying pan , Hmm maybe More grease .😮🧀

[@juri_xiii9977]

@@MrJugNut Tofu..?

[@thorin1045]

well, that is just pulsed explosion propulsion. the smaller cousin of the npp. and that is actually tested and worked, in small scale.

[@jesusgaud8]

“…That kids, is how you acronym” 😂😂😂☠️

[@frankdickey9470]

This is such a great video and topic. I am curious about how the craft would slow down to enter orbit upon arrival. Joe could you please do a video that addresses some of those issues on trajectory, in-flight issues, slow-down etc.?

[@Fantic156]

Love the depth you go to, to present an all-encompassing, detailed and accurate video. Your research (or researcher/s) is on point and could teach some 'news' agencies a LOT, but most of all your delivery is great, solid science with amusing anecdotes and side-tracks that add to the whole. I watch enthralled, thank you ..

[@al866]

In the gorilla suit story, why were the base psychologists more trusted than the base pilots? Isn't a pilot a pretty trusted military position? Seems easier to just have the pilots in on it too.

[@insomniapetals4424]

From someone who spent entirely too much time around them, pilots gossip... Like, heavy gossip. They might not intend it, but their families hear it while they're standing around with a cocktail and gossiping... I'm not saying none can be trusted, I'm just saying... What's the saying? Two people can keep a secret if both of them are dead. It's not untrue.

[@luceafarul5740]

​@@insomniapetals4424 I'd also add that there were probably a lot of pilots but only a few psychologists

[@unclerojelio6320]

Compartmentalization

[@alalalala57]

There's fewer psychologists than pilots on the base, probably. Less people to look out for.

[@russellharrell2747]

All I can say is I Dream of Jeanie.

[@AnthoForever]

Hi Joe! Super cool idea to do this contest of sketches. I like it and it made me watch 2 videos I have not seen before. Way to go!

[@wohnai]

Loving the new set and upgraded camera allowing the jump cuts!

[@cartercordingley6062]

Hey Joe, I think the best acronym is for Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (ACHOO) syndrome. You definitely need to do a video on this.

[@BobbyBrownlee-g4p]

First off, I gotta say that I love your channel. Awesome stuff. On the topic of space travel, I'm kinda stumped why I've never heard anyone suggest designing a magnetosphere for the ship. I know that it was an impossibility in the past but with the technology emerging today I think it is possible.

[@MoKhera]

Good to hear they are finally building it rather than all the talk for decades of silence on the original build. Gotta see this work - 45 days would be nice too.

[@jmen4ever257]

It's a huge game changer. Aside from the radiation exposure for 8 months, and the damage done to the human body due to being weightless, it's 8 months stuck with the same people. Being With some people, even one week, would be six days to long.

[@aaronfidelisrecine]

The video quality and production value gains are awesome. New set looks great!

[@brianbeswick]

I’d be curious if NASA will try incorporate rotating detention into NERVA.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Nothings is burning in NERVA.

[@slcpunk2740]

How's the splash battle going?

[@brianbeswick]

@@slcpunk2740 a lot like rotating detentions. Lol

[@slcpunk2740]

@@brianbeswick good sport 🤣

[@pablobro5944]

You talked about RTGs exploding in the atmosphere and spreading radioactive pollution, but aren't RTGs very weak and only used for minor instruments? Surely a reactor powering the entire rocket engine would have a lot more fuel and have way worse consequences if it explodes

[@brianarbenz7206]

NERVA _was_ built - on my model rocket stand circa 1973. It came out as a kit, which I bought, assembled and proudly placed next to my Saturn V, Lunar Module and Command/Service Modules in my bedroom. The NERVA came with the crewed interplanetary Pilgrim Observer vehicle (presumably named by the model company) which had rotating extensions that created artificial gravity (only 1/10th G) and oxygen from a hydroponic garden. Yeah, I still recall all those specifics. Some kids knew by heart the dimensions of each Kiss member’s guitars, others knew their model rockets.

[@aidenmclaughlin1076]

Finally the KSP dreams are coming true!

[@aperson9950]

Man this engine has 100 more isp than the nuclear engine in ksp which has 800 isp so its better than the ksp one (also i just realized the ksp one is called nerv.. nerva... huh...)

[@christopherbrummet4997]

"Dude....I just saw Donkey Kong....and he's a pilot."

[@andrewjustice210]

Actually, I think diddy kong is the one that flies the plane

[@bradleyhoward9638]

​@@andrewjustice210 if you want to race in a turboprop sure but Funky Kong is the OG piloting Kong. He always got all the Kongs safely from one area to the next all over the (Donkey Kong) country.

[@conordavis1264]

I just wanna say I was having a really bad start to my morning and a long 20 hour drive back to Texas and your videos especially this one really brightened up my day. Thank you so much for the years of content you've been producing!

[@Mangaka-ml6xo]

Have a safe trip on the long roads!

[@brownerjerry174]

why not just fly wherever you are going instead of driving for so long hours potentially endangering other's lives because of your fatigue? American mindset🤦

[@conordavis1264]

@@brownerjerry174 financially cost effective. The flight is at least 5X more expensive. And is a little bit more environmentally friendly since the trip to the destination away from Texas included my kids.

[@Mangaka-ml6xo]

@@brownerjerry174 I'd guess it's not the same costs, Conor Davis might also take some joy from the long drive. If it's not too rude for me to ask, where are you from ? Feels like you might be somewhere in Europe.

[@adrielburned6924]

Never bad going back to Texas. Just go around the woke cities.

[@philrabe910]

Sorry, love the show and new set- 6:20 did you just do a Hitchcock zoom pull? Pull zoom? What the heck they call it? Dolly out while zooming in or vice versa. (can they do that in camera now?)

[@fakenews450]

II would like to bring up something interesting on the topic of nuclear engines. We (The US) from 1957 to the 1964 had another program similar to NERVA called "Project Pluto'" which focused on the development of in-atmospheric nuclear power engines for military use. Similarly to NERVA, it met major success as well as the development of two nuclear powered ramjet engines which could operate at Mach 3. However the pentagon was concerned that a cruise missile carrying multiple nuclear weapons, flying below radar, bursting eardrums, and coating the area with radiation would be "too provocative." It's a very interesting read if your into these sorts of things there are also a good video by Curious Droid on it.

[@supremebeme]

Good episode, informative and not too many weird jokes, thanks.

[@LaurieAnnCurry]

Pshaw man! There is no such thing as Joe telling to many weird jokes.

[@ghostridergunship]

I wonder if pulsed nuclear energy can be directed, like a nuclear claymore

[@aq_ua]

Basically the Orion drive

[@korganoc]

you will need massive EM containment fields perhaps bigger than the ones used to contain plasma in fusion research

[@jtyranus]

Think there was actually research done on nuclear shaped charges.

[@hubertino855]

You are thinking about Casaba-Howitzer project.

[@custos3249]

With enough lead, anything can be directed

[@timberhill3562]

The new studio looks sick! 🤘 Thanks for being awesome!

[@Grandstonie]

NASA : Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Whilst space x does the opposite. Upcoming space race to mars?

[@Scott_C]

I love that you can still see the classic bookshelf when you turn to the tangent cam. :) Makes me feel like your new setup is just an extension of your old office.

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Being familiar with the NERVA program I met NASA's announcement with a hearty, "Well DUH!' I've been waiting for them to dust that off. As for ambitious timeline if they were starting from scratch I'd be more skeptical. They have a good base to work from, and with modern computer modelling and manufacturing it might be less hopelessly optimistic than we think. It all comes down to funding; I think if they can throw enough money at it they might be able to do it.

[@pattyjslackin]

Great video! Would it be possible to adjust the intensity of the back-lit faux brick to more closely match the intensity of the desk back-lighting? I feel that the desk is perfect on my screen. The faux brick is intense. Love the new setup! Thought I'd offer some notes with it being so fresh 👍

[@blueskyresearch6701]

One of the reasons starship excites me so much is that to eclipse it engineers will have to realize some of these shelved or classified technologies.

[@Jh00tube]

This is one of your best videos, Joe! Loved the new setting! Much amor from Brazil!

[@winged]

The nuclear advantage do not have to be shortening travel time only. There are other important factors too like the mass of your cargo and overall mass of your transfer stage including propellant. So you can use this advantage for 3 things: 1. Shorter travel time with the same mass of cargo and the same transfer stage (as you described) 2. Decrease the mass of transfer stage with the same cargo and the same travel time (reducing the cost because there is less mass to lift into orbit) 3. Increase the mass of the cargo with the same transfer stage and the same travel time (so more stuff can be transferred into Mars with the same transfer stage)

[@nibs1989]

I love the new studio set up, looks sharp! Content is sharp too, always such interesting topics. Keep up the great work!

[@axem.8338]

Joe, the old background music is being missed. Please add it to your videos again.

[@kendalldarveaux]

You actually used ‘gaslighting’ correctly! Most people don’t, so good on you!

[@rlrfproductions]

No he didn't (joke)

[@KungFuWizardOfJesus]

@@rlrfproductions haha 😐

[@kendalldarveaux]

@@rlrfproductions Not gonna lie, you got me.

[@irighterotica]

Too true.

[@p-__]

My farts are better than Joe’s farts

[@farmboypresents9977]

The big problem with the pulse propulsion is how do you slow down? You cant turn and fire nukes for braking i don't think.

[@RichardRLindley]

Dude nice! Keep up the video info on DARPA - we need to know every step of the way what they are going to do. In many ways, it's something new, so the more brains the better. Keep the world informed Joe! It is exciting; one of the get into gear with the tv months. Landing a human on Mars just got real!

[@positiveoutlook17]

A generation of some of our most talented engineers, scientists and machinists dedicated their careers on NERVA (my dad and his co-workers included). They built, tested it, gave it their blood sweat and tears for years. It was canceled for non-technical reasons, purely political at the very end. It was heartbreaking for those involved. I was told there is at least one NERVA engine boxed up at Hanford in working order where it was sent after the program was canceled.

[@jmen4ever257]

I knew that a manned mission to Mars around 1975 got the ax, but Americas lead in the space race was squandered as well. This has put us 75-100 years behind what could have been.

[@emilaviles6703]

Rocket running by fuel, it's engine, nuclear space craft it's engine, is ordinary speed of outer space, qualified outer travel is speed of light, like UFO it's machine, no fuel ,no oil no engine, no nuclear, no combustion light, anything no,,,, that's advance technology,

[@ultragoldcoin8780]

@@jmen4ever257 there's a reason why certain technology is held back, the government doesn't want a fast evolution of technology in such a short time because it will benefit the public too much. It was canceled for the public sector and private but military took over the project and most likely employ in top secret aircraft

[@somnathroy102]

There should be documents lying around what and how they did something right ?. If so then won't will they able build it up to the point where they left before ?

[@positiveoutlook17]

@@somnathroy102 i don't know, everything at the time was very secretive. Most had backgrounds in naval reactors and similar. Employees on programs like Nerva would have not taken anything with them. It's all probably in some Indiana Jones style warehouse.

[@_spooT]

I would be highly impressed if the base psychologists kept a straight face while handling the patients complaints of seeing a gorilla in a jet

[@ElijsDima]

I wonder if this will proceed as quickly as the whole SLS project did.

[@michaelmurphy6195]

Love the sarcasm!

[@half_real]

Slow, Less Speed

[@RS-ls7mm]

So slow it will never happen. There is a zero chance that the greens will allow that much nuclear material to be launched. Maybe if China launches it, they don't give a fart what the people think or care about any consequences.

[@trespire]

That would depend on Congress. Got to grease their palms for anything to get done.

[@gman4906]

Well they did beat starship in getting to space first

[@MonsterSound.Bradley]

The only thing I would change in your new (and improved) studio set is the silver KZbin plaque. The lines created with the larger gold plaque above it, draw your eyes strongly to an implied point in the distance. This becomes a focus distractor, imho. Just remove it. If you want to keep the silver plaque, you could try it under the plant, perhaps? Just a thought. Cheers.

[@iseest4irs]

Rotating detonation engines also interest me a lot. Seems like a lot of major breakthroughs for space travel are on the horizon

[@mitseraffej5812]

SpaceX recently demonstrated a rotating, then detonating rocket ship.

[@RobVollat]

Just imagine how rapid our technological growth will be after AI has had time to develop. AI is set to explode this year and it will be exponential growth year after year.

[@AntneeUK]

Having literally just finished binging all of For All Mankind, I love seeing mention of Pathfinder in this episode. And you know the Russians stopped developing their nuclear engine because Margo stopped feeding them specs in our timeline 😂

[@MRAMAR94]

haha, I agree, that woman is unable to find love without becoming a traitor :P

[@Aurelleah]

First time I've ever seen a Joe Scott vid in its infancy; 4 mins ago. Always excited for new Joe Scott vids! Edit: I've heard some stuff about nuclear powered rockets a lot recently, would be really cool if we got to see advancement in this area!

[@derrekvanee4567]

Good edit! Close kall komrad.

[@professor1262]

@@derrekvanee4567 🤨

[@rajatbakshi6587]

Ur videos genuinely make me happy, and i know after 10 years , when i will see your videos again...i will say "good old days"

[@ihp5353]

Freeman Dyson would be proud! He was one of leading scientists who worked on Project ORION. You could find his interviews on youtube. He really hadn't lost his brilliance even in his 70s through 90s (when the interviews recorded), and recently died at 97 years old in 2020.

[@bsjeffrey]

nothing could go wrong with this idea.

[@arandomcommenter412]

Exactly, I’m glad you understand.

[@TheKingofHearts777]

Could humans even survive half the speed of light travel with project Daedalus?

[@NavarroRefugee]

Humans can survive any speed as long as the acceleration is mild enough. Most plans for rockets that get close to the speed of light call for running the engines for months or even years to slowly build up to that speed at 1g acceleration or less.

[@TheKingofHearts777]

@@NavarroRefugee I forgot that it's rapid acceleration that kills and not the actual speed.

[@allangibson8494]

@@TheKingofHearts777 As a lot of people put it “it’s not the fall that kills - it’s the sudden stop at the end”.

[@bradleyhoward9638]

​@@TheKingofHearts777 oh no so hyperdrive will never happen nooo.

[@eamonia]

Dude, since they're used so often in your content, your channel is the reason that I've melded the word 'acronym' into my vocabalarry. Thanks for making me more smarter!

[@raidermaxx2324]

haha what did you think the literation for NASA, NATO or SCUBA or NAVY SEAL was called? You never learned these are all acronyms?

[@eamonia]

@@raidermaxx2324 What? I couldn't make any sense of what you just said. I know what all of those mean and could someone decipher your "sentence" regardless of the lack of punctuation and interesting choice of capitalization but, what?

[@daffidavit]

Stanton Friedman, one of the forefathers of UFOlogy worked for many companies, including Westinghouse, which build nuclear powered rocket engines. He was designing them back in the 1960s and 70s before the companies stopped building them. He said they were extremely efficient and powerful Friedman said the power output was amazing. He also said, due to radiation, that you wouldn't want to be near once of them when they were producing power.

[@joethestack3894]

What we need is an engine consisting of a mass accelerator powered by a nuclear electric generator. To start with we can use a simple nuclear thermoelectric generator, but we need a lot more power than that. A mass accelerator, same concept as a high-energy particle accelerator, will minimize the amount of propellant used. When more powerful generators become available we add accelerator channels. We will have a craft that continuously pulls one gee yet.

[@michaeldunne338]

If you liked Pathfinder, may want to check out ASPEN (if you haven't already), as in: "ASPEN Revisited: The Challenge of Nuclear Propulsion for ETO" "ASPEN was a study conducted by Los Alamos National Labs in the early 1960s to examine the benefits of using a Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) for Earth-to-Orbit (ETO) single-stage launch vehicle applications. Using the analysis methods and assumptions of the time, this formerly classified study showed that a significant performance potential might be derived from using NTR engines for the final acceleration phase to orbit (air-breathing engines were used to Mach 11)."

[@antoniopalmero4063]

Cheers Joe 🇬🇧

[@Ravencos]

Awesome vid. I always come to you for my space travel updates 😁

[@martinmackye9865]

The energy of your Chanel is waning.

[@seanys]

Please straighten that KZbin plaque. It’s bugging me.

[@angeloramirez1249]

It's been a while since I watch your content. Huge improvement with the audio. Nice❤

[@adamb8317]

Not only is nuclear thermal propulsion promising, but nuclear electric propulsion is also very possible to be a game changer for interplanetary travel if ion thrusters can be developed with much higher thrust than current designs.

[@tommygun80127]

Would you do a segment on MHD propulsion please? I know its considered theoretical but it is a fascinating topic.

[@davidb3272]

Awesome video Joe!!! Thanks for all the cool info.

[@InquisitorShepard]

Sometimes earth makes me feel like we unlock every part of the tech tree except FTL. By the time we discover faster than light travel we will have zero point reactors, sentient AI, replicators and hardlight constructs before making it to the next star.

[@87dammi]

Love your videos Joe! By the way, there is some background hiss, might need to check your setup :)

[@constantineromonov6580]

Joe, instead of an Oxidizer, why couldn't we fluorinate a substance it being much more reactive? Also, why wouldn't you use something more dense and heavier as a propellant instead of hydrogen in a Nuclear Engine? Such as any inert solid? I actually don't know the density of hydrogen without looking it up but I'm sure there are things more dense then liquid hydrogen and you an impart much more energy into a denser atom and achieve a much higher specific impulse.

[@Foof50]

So from my experience as a nuclear reactor operator I know there was a nuclear powered airplane way back when that you should look into and why it didn't make it. Also, I haven't heard anything about the cooling system for the cores. Yes they'll heat the hydrogen, but uncontrollable reactivity is no bueno and you need cooling and a moderator. Plus the shielding is gonna be pretty substantial. The water can be reused and will be cooled by transferring to hydrogen, if they use water, but it's gonna be a lot of water in that. I would like if you went into more detail about the actual operation of the reactor.

[@denvera1g1]

Actually, the recent breakthrough in fusion tech, is realistically only suited for nuclear pulsed propulsion. The efficiency would need to be greatly improved, by quite alot, but a fission reactor could drive the lasers or other future more efficient tech to compress the fusion pellets

[@asiriomi]

Great video! I wanted to point out a subtle but notable distinction between "acronyms" and "initialisms" If it can be pronounced as a word such as SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) or LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) then it is an acronym However, if it could not be easily pronounced as a word such as FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) or the X-NTRV used in your video then it is an initialism, in which case we say each letter individually.

[@slartybartfast6868]

Pure Genius, Joe. Your contest i mean. Pure Genius!

[@thespacebanana1307]

We need a moon base before pulsed nuclear propulsion

[@petepete2284]

That was great JS . thank you.

[@williamconrad1087]

I believe my corvette has nuclear pulse propulsion since I have the NPP option, sounds great too.

[@KindredIndust]

at 13 mins... this is why i believe we need a stable space platform to refuel and launch secondary craft from. Also for research. since in space thrust may work a little differently then in atmosphere.

[@BoxerHeaven]

How do you slow down? Would you use the same amount of fuel to get into orbit? What about returning home? What about landing on Mars and then taking off?

[@MikeLawlorBarefoot]

Great video man! Thanks,

[@JamesGMunn]

It is very challenging to test the Draco engine on the ground and not pollute the air. So, they have to test it in space. In the old days, they would have just tested it on the ground and then disassembled it to inspect for wear issues etc. How will Draco check for these sorts of things? All you can say at the end is that it worked this time or did not work.

[@jameswallace9906]

Surprisingly drako engine is quite simplistic. They're using the radioactive decay of isotopes essentially heat hydrogen gas to the point of a plasma and then directed out the back of the engine. It's the engineering that's the hard part.

[@slavicsoup7762]

My grandpa worked for a laboratory which was subcontracted to develop nuclear engines for NERVA in the 1960's. Such a shame this project was cancelled. It is quite astounding how advanced our nuclear engines were even in the 60's. Although the program developed fully functional nuclear fission-based engines, none were used on any missions afaik. Imagine how far we would be today if the program had not been scrubbed.

[@scottl8973]

Sorry to say I just notice your new back ground pretty cool

[@ldouglassbottorff9792]

Great video. Another reason we absolutely need to reduce space flight time is that the crew is likely to be highly trained and intelligent. The crew's time is extremely valuable.