hmmm ...this hypothetical scenario was included in the same press report with no further comment: "Upon reaching the ocean, the probe may encounter extraterrestrial life forms that attempt to metabolize the probe."
Harry On Sat, Jan 21, 2023 at 9:30 AM H L V <hveeder...@gmail.com> wrote: > Accessing Icy World Oceans Using Lattice Confinement Fusion Fast Fission > > > https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2023/Accessing_Icy_World_Oceans/ > > quote > Icy World researchers have proposed using a nuclear powered, heated probe. > However, rather than require either the plutonium-238 radioisotope heat > source or an enriched uranium-235 fission reactor, with significant launch > safety costs, we propose making use of the recent Lattice Confinement > Fusion source used to efficiently fast-fission either depleted uranium or > thorium in a molten lithium matrix. The resulting hybrid fusion fast > fission nuclear reactor will be smaller than a traditional fission reactor > where a lower mass power source is needed and provide efficient operation > with thermal waste heat from reactor heats probe to melt through ice shelf > to sub-ice oceans. >
