4.4 KiB
| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion | 2/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_Nuclear_Propulsion | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T09:56:29.596684+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Reactor-1 === On February 5, 1957, another reactor was made critical at the Critical Experiments Facility of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as part of the circulating-fuel reactor program of the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company (PWAC). This was called the PWAR-1, the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Reactor-1. The purpose of the experiment was to experimentally verify the theoretically predicted nuclear properties of a PWAC reactor. The experiment was only run briefly; by the end of February 1957 all data had been taken and disassembly had begun. The experiment was run at essentially zero nuclear power. The operating temperature was held constant at approximately 675 °C (1,247 °F), which corresponds closely to the design operating temperature of the PWAR-l moderator; this temperature was maintained by external heaters. Like the 2.5 MWt ARE, the PWAR-1 used NaF-ZrF4-UF4 as the primary fuel and coolant.
== Cancellation == Technological competition with the Soviet Union (as represented by the launch of Sputnik 1), and continued strong support from the Air Force allowed the program to continue, despite divided leadership between the DOD and the AEC. Numerous test facilities were funded and constructed through the 1950s and 1960–61 in order to produce a flight-worthy nuclear power unit, including one at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). While the ARE successfully demonstrated operation of a MSR concept, the program was canceled by President Kennedy on March 26, 1961, citing the high cost with no flight-worthy reactor having been produced up to that point – "15 years and about $1 billion have been devoted to the attempted development of a nuclear-powered aircraft; but the possibility of achieving a militarily useful aircraft in the foreseeable future is still very remote". Also contributing to the cancellation was that the first intercontinental ballistic missiles entered into active service in September 1959 which all but eliminated the need for a nuclear-powered aircraft as a strategic deterrent. Nevertheless, the results of the ARE program prompted scientists and engineers at ORNL to submit a preliminary design proposal to the Atomic Energy Commission for a 30 MWth experimental MSR to explore MSR as a civilian power station concept. The result of the proposal was direction from the Atomic Energy Commission for ORNL to design, construct, and operate the Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE).
== See also == List of nuclear-powered aircraft Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory WS-125, 1955 USAF requirement for nuclear powered bomber NERVA Project Pluto to develop nuclear powered ramjet engines for use in cruise missiles Project Rover to develop a nuclear thermal rocket Tupolev Tu-95LAL
== References ==
== External links ==
Gantz, Kenneth (1960), Nuclear flight; the United States Air Force programs for atomic jets, missiles, and rockets., New York, Duell, Sloan and Pearce. Thorton, G (June 28, 1962), Comprehensive Technical Report, General Electric Direct-Air-Cycle Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Program, Program Summary and References, US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), OSTI 1048124. Dreams of Nuclear Flight — The NEPA and ANP programs (PDF), Wisc, archived from the original (PDF) on June 18, 2010, retrieved August 12, 2009. The Bureau of Atomic Tourism, archived, archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Wendt, Gerald (1951), A Scientist Preview The First Atomic Airplane (article) with illustrations on the subject of using an atomic reactor to power an aircraft. Martin, Richard (May 8, 2012), "ANP", SuperFuel, St. Martin's Publishing, pp. 109–12, ISBN 9780230341913. SOVİET TOP SECRET NUCLEAR AIRPLANE M-60 Akademi Portal by Akademi Portal web site (in English) COMPREHENSHIVE TECHNICAL REPORT GE DIRECT AIR CYCLE AIRCRAFT NUCLEAR PROPULSION PROGRAM (in English) "Flyable" Reactors & Neutron Coupling (in English) Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Program: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Research and Development of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (Report). July 23, 1959. hdl:2027/uiug.30112065524198. Declassified Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Program: Manned Aircraft Progress Report 1956-1958