---
title: ""While a chemical rocket works by igniting some kind of flammable…"
date: 2019-09-08
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
---

# "While a chemical rocket works by igniting some kind of flammable…

*September 8, 2019 · Facebook*

::::: {}
::: {}
[https://www.universal-sci.com/headlines/2019/7/3/earth-to-mars-in-100-days-the-power-of-nuclear-rockets](https://www.universal-sci.com/headlines/2019/7/3/earth-to-mars-in-100-days-the-power-of-nuclear-rockets){target="_blank"}
:::

::: {}
\"While a chemical rocket works by igniting some kind of flammable chemical and then forcing the exhaust gases out a nozzle. Thanks to good old Newton's third law, you know, for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction, the rocket receives a thrust in the opposite direction from the expelled gases.\
\
A nuclear rocket works in a similar way. A marble-sized ball of Uranium fuel undergoes the process of fission, releasing a tremendous amount of heat. This heats up a hydrogen to almost 2,500 C which is then expelled out the back of the rocket at high velocity. Very very high velocity, giving the rocket two to three times the propulsion efficiency of a chemical rocket.\
\
Remember the 8 months I mentioned for a chemical rocket? A nuclear thermal rocket could cut the transit time in half, maybe even 100 day trips to Mars. Which means less resources consumed by the astronauts, and a lower radiation load.\
\
And there's another big benefit. The thrust of a nuclear rocket could allow missions to go when Earth and Mars aren't perfectly aligned. Right now if you miss your window, you have to wait another 2 years, but a nuclear rocket could give you the thrust to deal with flight delays.\"\
\
[https://www.universal-sci.com/headlines/2019/7/3/earth-to-mars-in-100-days-the-power-of-nuclear-rockets](https://www.universal-sci.com/headlines/2019/7/3/earth-to-mars-in-100-days-the-power-of-nuclear-rockets){target="_blank"}
:::
:::::