Comprehensive Technical Analysis Of Nuclear Thermal And Nuclear Electric Propulsion Systems For Interplanetary Exploration

The advancement ofi human civilization into the solar system is fiundamentally constrained by the energy density limitations ofi chemical propulsion. Nuclear propulsion, encompassing thermal, electric, and pulse architectures, ofifiers a transfiormative leap in specifiic impulse and payload capacity by leveraging the high energy density ofi nuclear fiission. This report provides a technically rigorous examination ofi the evolution, physics, and design ofi nuclear rocket systems. It begins with a detailed historical reconstruction ofi the United States\\\' Project Rover and NERVA programs, alongsidg thg Sovigt Union's RD-0410 development, highlighting the achievement ofi specifiic impulses exceeding 840 seconds. The fiundamental physics ofi neutron kinetics and heat transfier in extreme environments are derived, fiocusing on the McCarthy- Wolfi and Taylor correlations fior supercritical hydrogen. A comparative analysis ofi propellants—liquid hydrogen, ammonia, and methane—reveals the critical trade-ofifis between mass efifiiciency and storage density. Advanced concepts, including gas-core reactors, nuclear light bulbs, and the pulse propulsion ofi Project Orion, are evaluated fior their potential to achieve interstellar velocities. The report concludes with an analysis ofi the current DARPA/NASA DRACO mission and the shifit toward High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fiuels, outlining a path fior the next generation ofi deep-space transportation.