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Since nuclear energy is used to power submarines why can't it be used for rocket engines?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Its probably because nuclear powerplants are too heavy for rockets. Though in theory nuclear powered space craft are an option. == The primary useful product of a nuclear reactor is heat. To use heat generated by a nuclear power plant to drive a conventional rocket isn't very practicle because the power to weight ratio is not very good. And when we wish to rocket ourselves out of the bottom of this gravity well, we need lots of power and minimal weight. The nuclear plant can't deliver the kind of performance that lends itself to the launch of space vehicles.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What are two main types of rocket engines?
The two main types of rocket engines are Solid fuel rocket engines and Liquid fuel rocket engines.
What has the author W H Robbins written?
W. H. Robbins has written: 'An historical perspective of the NERVA nuclear rocket engine technology program' -- subject(s): Rocket engines
Why only rocket engines can be propelled to space?
Rocket engines are not air breathing engines and hence they can be propelled into space.
Working principle of rocket engine?
A rocket engine, or simply "rocket," is a jet engine[1] that uses only propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. Rocket engines are reaction engines and obtain thrust in accordance with Newton's third law. Since they need no external material to form their jet, rocket engines can be used for spacecraft propulsion as well as terrestrial uses, such as missiles. Most rocket engines are internal combustion engines, although non combusting forms also exist.Rocket engines as a group, have the highest exhaust velocities, are by far the lightest, and are the most energy efficient (at least at very high speed) of all types of jet engines. However, for the thrust they give, due to the high exhaust velocity and relatively low specific energy of rocket propellant, they consume propellant very rapidly.
What is rocket cryogenic engines?
Rocket engine
What are model rocket engines and what do they do?
Model rocket engines are reproductions of rocket engines that are scaled down to a much smaller size than the real thing. They usually don't do anything and are for display purposes.
What is a example of a rocket fires engines and lifts off?
the rocket is accelerating
Action-reaction engines that propel an object forward?
a rocket
How many engines does a rocket have?
4
What are rocket boosters?
The engines for the space shuttle.
Can you give your sentences with the word nuclear power in it?
That rocket has NUCLEAR POWER!?
What has the author Douglas C Rapp written?
Douglas C. Rapp has written: 'Reliability assessment of thrust chamber cooling concepts using probabilistic analysis techniques' -- subject(s): Thrust, Monte Carlo method, Rocket engines 'High energy-density liquid rocket fuel performance' -- subject(s): Liquid propellants, Rocket engines
