Quote:
Originally Posted by Juvat  Couldn't you use just fusion cores? That way you don't have to worry about a meltdown or large amounts of radioactive waste. Fusion cores are safer since they can't sustain their own reactions and therefore can't melt down...just shut off fuel flow and it's off. Huge safety feature IMO.
Great progress, btw.  |
Well actually the question is kind of debatable. Some say that we will one day find some sort of catalyst substance that will allow us to convert almost all the radioactive material from Fission into inert materials and energy. Basically just making the process safer and more efficient.
And on the flip side, unless your using cold fusion you'd need to get that Fusion reaction close to the temp of the sun. And if you do lose containment of that it might... I don't know, make like a mini supernova inside your ship (not sure about that though, I'm sort of guessing).
Depending on how you go about it (since this is sci-fi), both could be quite safe or carry great risks. I was thinking that each engine would hold it's own small reactor, so that if one does blow the ship has only lost a fraction of it's propulsion. While there would be a main reactor that supplies everything else like enviro-control to lights and such throughout the ship.
But that's just my idea.