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nec208
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<p><font size="2">Read article. </font></p><p><font size="2">In a <strong>nuclear thermal rocket</strong> a working fluid, usually hydrogen, is heated in a high temperature nuclear reactor, and then expands through a rocket nozzle to create thrust. </font></p><p><font size="2">The nuclear reactor's energy replaces the chemical energy of the reactive chemicals in a traditional rocket engine. Due to the higher energy density of the nuclear fuel compared to chemical ones, about 10<sup>7</sup> times, the resulting efficiency of the engine is at least twice as good as chemical engines even considering the weight of the reactor, and even higher for advanced designs.</font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>