Beyond NERVA 🌈

Tweets about nuclear power, space, and related fields. All comments on my own head only. She/her

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

I'm always working on about 10 things related to #astronuclear engineering, rotating habitats, and #futurism in general, but I'm severely limited in time due to the fact that I've got bills to pay. Consider helping me create more! https://t.co/g0HAA6L3tT

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@GrumpyEcon Oh, to follow up on this: if it wasn't radioactive, they just pulled a production unit, then used some black plastic to simulate the fuel itself. No guarantees that it would have been flight worthy, but they INTENDED it to be

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

From humble things come great discoveries.

The Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit is probably one of the most enabling technologies for US deep space probes, all in a unit about the size of the last joint of your thumb.

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@GrumpyEcon They only have two fun time staff, both museum curators not astronuke, and the subject is far beyond their knowledge, but what they know they share. Just be aware that it's a tiny museum, with me staff than they need, so be patient and understanding. Jackie is awesome, though.

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@GrumpyEcon I did see ALSEP mock ups as well, but they were less flashy. I think you can see one in the video of all the goodies on the table somewhere...

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@GrumpyEcon I would recommend reaching out to the director of the Mound Cold War Discovery Center's director, Jaclyn Miller, on that question. No guarantees that she'll be able to answer- they don't have a dedicated astronuke historian - but she MAY be able to help:
[email protected]

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@GrumpyEcon This was a "let's sell it to the politicos" model

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@GrumpyEcon Mound Museum in Miamisburg... just like the rest of these shots

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@EdPheil @DanaEn803 @nyrath @wingod @katyhuff @nuclearkatie Fission candle isn't the same thing, and you know that.

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@EdPheil @DanaEn803 @nyrath @wingod @katyhuff @nuclearkatie You're great on neuronics, hence why I ask you these questions... then you do this sort of thing.

Seriously, this is fucking TWITTER. This is a playground for ideas, and you pull THIS juvenile BS?

Guess you earned that rep...

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@EdPheil @DanaEn803 @nyrath @wingod @katyhuff @nuclearkatie If you use burnable poisons that increase the fissile density fast enough to make up for moderation loss, and design the reactor around this idea, then it MAY be theoretically POSSIBLE.

That's literally all I asked, and you decided to treat me like a high schooler.

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@EdPheil @DanaEn803 @nyrath @wingod @katyhuff @nuclearkatie non -starter, but from a reactor design point of view, is changing the n spectrum of a reactor to mitigate moderation loss a thing that's even theoretically POSSIBLE?

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@EdPheil @DanaEn803 @nyrath @wingod @katyhuff @nuclearkatie Ok, in kinda wondering about changing the n spectrum of a reactor over time to mitigate moderation loss (theoretically, at least). Sure, you're looking at running a LEU reactor with HALEU (or HEU with HALEU) fuel with LOTS of burnable poisons to do it, and that's a regulatory...

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@VAXHeadroom @GalvinAlmanza I saw them! They're great!

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

Awesome photos of KIWI-A!

H/t @MrBeamJockey

[Emily Galvin-Almanza @GalvinAlmanza]

Oh wow, looks like it was in fact Jack. Here he is with the scientists (playing horseshoes according to the note) and with his camera.

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@waynehale And as epic as Lindberg's flight was, there's was even more epic - in the classic "you did an insanely awesome thing, but I wouldn't wish that experience on my worst enemy" way.

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@ValsAerospace Just saying...

[Beyond NERVA 🌈 @BeyondNerva]

@ValsAerospace HMU before you do that! I did a personal tour at Mound Museum with their director that I just haven't had the energy to write up... I could even get you in touch with her if you want!

I know I haven't been publishing recently, but the research is FAR ahead of writing!