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| Image: wikimedia Commons |
In 1946, physicist Stanislaw Ulam proposed the theory of "nuclear pulse propulsion" . Accordingly, instead of using propellants to propel the spacecraft, nuclear bombs could be detonated from behind them at timed intervals to generate the momentum needed to propel them forward. Each explosion causes the spacecraft to move forward at a higher speed than the previous one. So through this, scientists thought that there is a possibility to undertake interstellar travel.
Centering on this theory of "Nuclear Pulse Propulsion", the construction of the spacecraft "ORION" was started in 1958. Scientists initially planned to detonate nuclear bombs from Earth, and then plan to detonate them from space after carrying the spacecraft into space.
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Also, the spaceship was equipped with blast shield and shock absorber systems to protect the occupants from nuclear blasts . At the bottom of the spaceship, spring -like structures were also installed under it to absorb the impact of the explosions . By launching this spacecraft into space, we can reach a distance of 10,000 km per second, scientists thought.
For this project in 1958, the American organization DARPA allocated about 8 crore 41 lakh rupees annually. Later, the US Air Force and NASA joined the project. The US Air Force agreed to fund the program only if there was any military use.
In 1959, a one-meter model of the Orion spacecraft, weighing 0.5 kilograms, made of wood and aluminum, was tested. After 6 consecutive eruptions in this experiment, our scientists reached a height of 186 feet in 23 seconds.
Disadvantages of Orion-Project:
Due to the explosion of nuclear bombs, the environment on earth and in outer space will be greatly affected. And some of the dangerous radiation emitted from them can take years to completely dissipate.
Physicist Freeman Dyson predicted that using nuclear fusion bombs could achieve speeds as high as 10,000 km/s . But for that, about 75,000 consecutive explosions would have to happen.
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Freeman Dyson predicted that no matter how much protection was provided, at least one of the occupants would die from some of the dangerous radiation released by nuclear explosions.
Even if we can reach 10,000 km/s it is only 3% of the speed of light. Even the closest star to our solar system , Proxima Centauri , is four light-years away. Even at 10,000 km/s, it would take us 120 years to reach that star. It takes another 120 years to reach Earth again. So in total we have to travel more than 240 years.
Also, the Orion spacecraft will have to carry several hundred tons of bombs.
As a result, the US Air Force withdrew from the program in 1964 due to lack of large-scale military use. In the same year 1964, NASA also withdrew from this program due to the large environmental impact and because it was involved in some other experiments related to chemistry.
The scheme was completely abandoned in 1965 due to inadequate funding. Even today, however, research is being conducted to propel spacecraft through nuclear explosions.