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From: x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Nuclear Powered Rocket
Message-ID: <1991Apr5.091738.7639@amd.com>
Date: 4 Apr 91 03:49:52 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
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From: x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT)

Does anyone out there know anything about the recently report DOD atom 
splitting high energinic engines.  The NEW YORK TIMES reported a little article
on this 3 APR 1991.  It sound very interesting, but very few details were 
given.

I remember some program back in the 50s-60s era of a nuclear rocket engine that
left radioactive material all over the atmosphere.  Anyone know how this new 
idea would work without imitting radioactive particles everywhere and what 
would happen in a wreck????

Sounds neccessary for high load launches and long range missions like to Mars, 
but how close in time are we to really doing this?

	[The article says the code name for the program is Timberwind,
	 and it has a specific impulse of "more than 900 seconds", twice
	 that of the space shuttle's main engines.  You might have more
	 luck with this question on sci.space. --CDR]

Charles K. Bergman
CDT USMA '93
x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu
x35147d3@usma8-emh2.army.mil
P.O. Box 54
U.S. Corps of Cadets
West Point, NY 10997