Hacker News Reader

I'm more concerened with a rocket launch failing spectacularly when the payload includes a nuclear reactor.

Has anything like this been attempted before?

RTGs[1] have, but apparently SRGs[2] haven't. I can't see any reason for this to be any more dangerous than the other nuclear stuff we've launched into space.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_ge...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_radioisotope_generato...

Yes, the Curiosity rover has (i believe) a similar nuclear power source. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_gen...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com