Recent content by vanzandtj

  1. V

    To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster—nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

    "such as hydrogen". Yes, certainly hydrogen. It has a lower atomic weight than any other propellant, so for a given temperature it gives the highest exhaust velocity. That's the only reason nuclear thermal gives a better specific impulse than chemical rockets. The relative energy density...