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by XorNot 720 days ago
It occurs to me since survivability isn't a problem for an unmanned probe, that a "cold" nuclear thermal engine vehicle could be used as a loitering interceptor: get it a solar orbit, and leave it till you see a target, then accelerate up to extra-solar escape velocity.

It solves the disposal problem neatly, since the probe and reactor are both leaving the solar system forever afterwards.