re: #539 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

NERVA Nuclear rocket engine.

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This is fairly simple in both concept and execution, essentially a nuclear reactor replaces the combustion chamber of a rocket motor, instantly heating a working fluid (liquid hydrogen in NERVA) to incandescent temperature and blowing it out the nozzle. The exhaust velocity is much higher than for a combustion rocket, and the amount of propellant used for any given thrust level is therefore lower. This means it pushes longer for any given propellant mass and will therefore add more acceleration.

That is what is suspected blew up outside Archangelsk. Norwegian and Finnish atomic energy and/or radiation safety authorities are monitoring the situation closely, still waiting for official word from SSM (Strålskyddsmyndigheten), the Swedish equivalent. I have a feeling this may turn out to be as bad as the Kyshtym thing.