Prometheus?

Any information, hint, implication as to what da Prez' speech will
do to or for Project Prometheus, aka nuclear power and propulsion?

In article ,
(Allen Thomson) wrote:

Any information, hint, implication as to what da Prez' speech will
do to or for Project Prometheus, aka nuclear power and propulsion?

Hints and implications so far are that this project will go full steam
ahead, since it enables better manned exploration.

Best,
- Joe

,------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Joseph J. Strout Check out the Mac Web Directory: |
| http://www.macwebdir.com |
`------------------------------------------------------------------'

"Joe Strout" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Allen Thomson) wrote:

Any information, hint, implication as to what da Prez' speech will
do to or for Project Prometheus, aka nuclear power and propulsion?

Hints and implications so far are that this project will go full steam
ahead, since it enables better manned exploration.

Indeed, O'Keefe specifically mentioned Prometheus
as something that would continue under the new
reorganization.

Bruce

Joe Strout wrote:

Hints and implications so far are that this project will go full steam
ahead, since it enables better manned exploration.

NEP is rather sucky for manned exploration. Nuclear thermal propulsion,
on the other hand, could be very useful.

Paul

In article ,
"Paul F. Dietz" wrote:

Joe Strout wrote:

Hints and implications so far are that this project will go full steam
ahead, since it enables better manned exploration.

NEP is rather sucky for manned exploration. Nuclear thermal propulsion,
on the other hand, could be very useful.

True. And a nuclear power reactor would be very useful for a moon base
(especially on those long winter (or summer) nights).

- Joe

,------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Joseph J. Strout Check out the Mac Web Directory: |
| http://www.macwebdir.com |
`------------------------------------------------------------------'

(Allen Thomson) wrote in
om:

Any information, hint, implication as to what da Prez' speech will
do to or for Project Prometheus, aka nuclear power and propulsion?

There was only one reference in the president's speech:

"As our knowledge improves, we'll develop new power generation, propulsion,
life support and other systems that can support more distant travels."

O'Keefe said this in the press briefing that followed the speech:

"O'KEEFE: Don't treat exploration missions as if it were one program. It's
a variety of different programs. You've got robotic, human capabilities,
vehicles, probes, again, robotic exploration vehicles towards lunar
missions. There's a range of different capabilities, all of which are
different and discreet kind of programs. Much of what's built into this, as
well, is what we have pursued in the last couple of years, Project
Prometheus for power generation and propulsion capabilities. So, in so many
ways, it is really refocusing agendas towards these specific mission
outcomes with the goal of following through on the policy objective that
was enunciated this afternoon of exploration and discovery."

--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.

Paul Dietz writes:

NEP is rather sucky for manned exploration.

Yes and no. NEP requires nuclear electric power generation, and that has a lot
of applications for manned missions.

And NEP could certainly leverage manned exploration: much of the payload for
mannned expeditions could be sent by NEP.

Will McLean

What about Vasmir plasma rockets? Its supposed to have a good strong
acceleration for a NEP, would that do for a Manned mission to the Moon?

Tom