[perihelions]

- "You can't blow up multiple nuclear rockets within the atmosphere just to learn what needs fixing for the next attempt."

Sure you can. Russia has blown up multiple experimental nuclear-powered cruise missiles in the last few years [0,1]. It's a political question of tradeoffs, of how much you value technological progress on a particular front.

America hasn't blown up any atmospheric nuclear reactors in this century. America is also unlikely to learn how to build aerospace nuclear reactors in this century.

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

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16509396 ("U.S. Has Been Watching Russia's Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missiles Crash and Burn (thedrive.com)")

[LargoLasskhyfv]

> America is also unlikely to learn how to build aerospace nuclear reactors in this century.

Why should it? It already knows. Since last century:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pluto

In a place called 'Jackass Flats', of all things...(Giggle)

Edit: Or take the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA mentioned here by credit_guy: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38136383

Same place, name is program :-)