[wobbegongz]

Yes, both USA and Soviet experimented with nuclear powered planes during the 60s. The problem was how to shield the pilots from radioactivity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear-powered_aircraft

They also experimented with nuclear powered drones. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a33565112...

And Russia now claims to have a nuclear engine that can make a cruise missile fly for days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9M730_Burevestnik

[LargoLasskhyfv]

What if there were a reactor type which would require no, or much less shielding because all it emits is mostly hard ultraviolet light?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_lightbulb

[ben_w]

I read that as using UV light to transfer energy to the working fluid, not that the actual nuclear reaction itself would be any different to any other nuclear reactor.

[LargoLasskhyfv]

Even when it reads "It would be operated at temperatures of up to 22,000°C where the vast majority of the electromagnetic emissions would be in the hard ultraviolet range." ?

edit: Sigh.. disregard, cf. https://web.archive.org/web/20080109011832/http://www.nuclea...

[hackerfromthefu]

Another problem is crashes or accidents