Nuclear Phoebus engines to power future rocket tests
Los Alamos scientists begin work on Phoebus reactors with thrusts up to 250 1030 pounds aimed at mid 1985 testing for Phoebus-1 and two tests yearly through 1966. Plans include Phoebus-2 by late 1967, with Aerojet General building three nozzles by 1957. Test Cell C at NRL Nev. upgrades to 5 000 megawatts for short high power runs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
NERVA
Los Alamos
Aerojet General Corp
Sacramento
Calif
Nuclear Rocket Development Station
Nev
Nuclear propulsion could boost Saturn V lunar payloads
Harold B. Finger of SNPO described a three stage Saturn V with a KIWI/NERVA based nuclear third stage. The system could land about 47 000 pounds on the Moon and enable up to 20 days of surface operations, with Mars missions as a major justification. Finger suggested significant weight savings in Earth orbit for nuclear propulsion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United States
Harold B. Finger
SNPO
Solar System
Finger
NASA
Washington, D. C
Moon
Earth
Nuclear propulsion gains U.S. space edge from Kiwi and NRX tests
Aerojet General Corp and Westinghouse Astronuclear Lab built reactors enabling early full power tests of Kiwi-B4-D on May 13 1964 at Los Alamos. Kiwi-B4-E restart Sept 10 marked end of Kiwi series begun 1959. NRX-A2 NERVA test reached power Sept 24 1964 with Oct restart, signaling progress toward larger reactor programs under Project Rover. Dr. Roderick J. Spence notes need to run reactors to failure to identify weaknesses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aerojet General Corp
Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory
Finger
Los Alamos
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
Roderick JW. Spence
Phoebus
Spence
Nuclear Rockets Restarted After Long Testing Delay
In Nevada at Nuclear Rocket Development Station Staton the Kiwi BLE reactor at Los Alamos was restarted and powered to full operating conditions on September 10 marking a milestone after years of testing. Harold B Finger of the Space Nuclear Propulsion Office said restart capability enables more flexible and economical development with each reactor costing about 4.5 million dollars. Following Kiwi ALE’s restart NRX A2, the first NERVA rocket reactor, was rerun on October 15 demonstrating continued restart capability for space propulsion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Staton
Nevada
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
Harold B. Finger
Joint
Aec-Nasa Space Nuclear Propulsion Office
Reactor Destroyed In Kiwi TNT Rover Flight Test
A nuclear rocket reactor at NRDS Nev was deliberately destroyed on January 12 1965 during Kiwi TNT tests. The Kiwi TNT design forced a self destructive burst by fission to study shutoff behavior and debris dispersion. Results aim to inform Rover safety and future engine tests including Phoebus 2.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jackass Flats
Nev
Rover
NRDS
Nuclear Rocket Development Station
Los Alamos
General
Nuclear Rockets: Rover Power Plant Marks First Major Change
Los Alamos led Rover program testing nuclear reactors for rocket propulsion at NRDS near Las Vegas. Kiwi-A tests began in 1953, advancing to Kiwi-B4D and Kiwi- BLE by 1964, with NRX-AZ first NERVA reactor tested in 1964, signaling feasibility of liquid hydrogen fueled nuclear propulsion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
Rover
Pulsion Office
AEC
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
New Mexico
Nuclear Rocket Development Station
NRDS
Las Vegas
Nevada
Los Alamos
New Zealand
Aerojet- General Corp
Westing
Kiwla
Also Mentioned on This Page
Atom
U.S
Hoover Dam
University of California
Air Force
Space Nuclear
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