The Air & Space Brief: Nuclear propulsion for satellites, New space launch record, CR threatens

[rangerrebew]

 The Air & Space Brief: Nuclear propulsion for satellites, New space launch record, CR threatens B-21, GBSD
 
By Tara Copp
Senior Pentagon Reporter, Defense One
January 18, 2022
 

Welcome to the Defense One Air and Space newsletter. Here are our top stories this week: 

If future U.S. satellites are to dodge incoming Russian or Chinese fire, they’ll need better ways to move around than today’s fuel-intensive thrusters. That’s why the Pentagon is looking into nuclear-powered propulsion, the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies noted in a new report.  Nuclear propulsion has longer endurance and is nearly twice as efficient as liquid satellite fuel, the report found.

CR costs: A year-long continuing resolution would cost the Air Force $3.5 billion and cost the Space Force $2 billion, the chiefs of those services testified to Congress last week. The cuts would freeze 78 “new start” programs, including the new Ground Based Strategic Deterrent ICBM, which would be delayed past its planned 2029 start. The B-21 new strategic bomber would also be delayed by up to a year.

A record year for space launches: Global launch attempts reached a record 145 launches in 2021, exceeding the previous record of 143 in 1967, Space Foundation’s Space Report 2021 reported today. Launches supporting SpaceX’s Starlink and OneWeb constellations accounted for much of the increase. Another notable—there were more space tourists last year, 14 total, than all other years combined. 

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2022/01/air-space-brief-nuclear-propulsion-satellites-new-space-launch-record-cr-threatens-b-21-gbsd/360843/

[EdinVA]

The first time one of those blow up on the launch pad a spray radio active material all over the eco warriors will kill it...

[Cyber Liberty]

The first time one of those blow up on the launch pad a spray radio active material all over the eco warriors will kill it...

I still remember the eco-freakos wigging out when we launched Cassini.

[Kamaji]

What sort of nuclear propulsion are they actually proposing?

[Cyber Liberty]

What sort of nuclear propulsion are they actually proposing?

Good question.  I recall a program in the 1960's to develop nuclear drives for missiles but it was abandoned because the power yield was disappointing and the engines produce a dirty (radioactive) exhaust.  For an object in orbit those drawbacks are irrelevant.