On: DARPA moving forward with nuclear thermal engine d...

[TedDoesntTalk]

> One key challenge with nuclear reactors in space is the risk of contaminating Earth

What?

[moffkalast → TedDoesntTalk]

ONE KEY CHALLENGE WITH NUCLEAR REACTORS IN SPACE IS THE RISK OF CONTAMINATING EARTH

[doctor_eval → moffkalast]

Well, I laughed, anyway.

[bobsmooth → TedDoesntTalk]

Should the rocket explode during launch.

[DennisP → bobsmooth]

That's not much of a risk, if you haven't ground-tested the engine. Nuclear fuel is barely radioactive before fission. It's the waste products of fission that you have to watch out for.