Aliens might eat it? On Sat, Jan 21, 2023 at 9:52 AM H L V <hveeder...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > 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. >> >
