Asri-unix.1336 net.space utzoo!decvax!cca!Hamilton.ES@PARC-MAXC@sri-unix Mon Apr 26 12:39:47 1982 Re: Another Saturn V query; Nuclear Power in Space (1) The "exhaust plume...about from the top of the first stage" is a shock wave rather than an exhaust plume. (2) When we talk about "nuclear electric power" in space, it's important to distinguish between RTG's and reactors. As far as I know, the U.S. has never orbited a reactor such as the Soviet one that broke up over Canada. U.S. outer planet probes use Radioisotopic Thermoelectric Generators, which are completely passive devices that use the thermoelectric effect to convert heat differences directly into electricity. I'm sure they operate at far lower temperatures than does any reactor core. --Bruce ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.