Coming from a study prepared for the Space Technology and System Development Commission of the International Academy of Astronautics, this report reviews studies on the possibilities of developing nuclear power and propulsion systems for space applications. The study group describes the possible advantages of using nuclear energy for this type of application despite concerns about safety and the performance limits of nuclear propulsion. The group introduces the technical side of nuclear propulsion and addresses nuclear thermal rocket propulsion systems, applications of ion thrusters to nuclear electric missions, high power and high-thrust-density electric propulsion for space transportation, metric configurations, and the legal issues and policies that need to be developed about the safety of nuclear propulsion systems and applications. Appendices include information on radiation doses and risks in nuclear propulsion and on the events at Chernobyl. Includes well-chosen photographs and line drawings. Annotation 2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
