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Danathar

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And, why specifically hydrogen? Does its behavior as a propellant behavior really outweigh the containment issues?

Anyone know of a chart of nuclear propellants? There's lots for chemical propellants, charting all the usual values, but I've never seen one for nuclear propellants.
ChatGPT SAY:

Hydrogen is used as a propellant in nuclear thermal propulsion systems because it has a very high specific impulse, or efficiency, as a rocket propellant. This means that a given amount of hydrogen propellant can provide a relatively large amount of thrust over a long period of time. Additionally, hydrogen's atomic structure makes it an ideal choice as a fuel for nuclear reactions, which are used to heat the hydrogen and produce thrust.

The containment issues associated with hydrogen as a propellant primarily stem from its low density and high reactivity, which can make it difficult to store and handle safely. However, these issues can be mitigated through the use of advanced containment and storage technologies, and the benefits of using hydrogen as a propellant may outweigh the challenges associated with its containment.

Overall, hydrogen is a promising propellant for nuclear thermal propulsion systems because of its high specific impulse, which can lead to more efficient propulsion and greater mission capabilities. Furthermore, hydrogen's atomic structure makes it an ideal choice as a fuel for nuclear reactions, which can be used to heat the hydrogen and produce thrust.
 
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