[rockemsockem]

Nuclear rockets are good in space, not in atmosphere and they aren't radioactive until you turn them on. You test in space. Also that isn't "Elon's approach to development" that's just how everything good has ever been made. Also if you plan to fail then you usually wind up failing more safely than if you don't plan to fail.

[adrianN]

If they blow up while being transported to space they usually are radioactive too.

[orost]

A reactor that has never been turned on isn't a significant radiation hazard. It's the fission products that are hazardous, not the fuel, if it's never gone critical there are no fission products yet.

[adrianN]

It’sa sufficiently big radiation hazard that I wouldn’t want to be under it.

[wizardforhire]

How much under? I’m guessing the real fear is contact, which then begs the question of dose over time.

Because as I’m sure you know and can see where I’m going with this, you’re already living under an enormous amount of lethal radiation, you and everyone else has been for their entire lives… its called the van allen belts.