fission reactors in space

On 9/15/14 7:49 PM, Ian Woollard ian.woollard@... [spacesettlers]

> Some Russian (RORSAT) satellites used reactors, and they're not very
> popular.

True -- but they demonstrate that the technology does work. I have no
doubt that their design could be improved upon.

> Incidentally 100kW from 512kg- 200W per kg are not particularly exciting
> numbers. Solar panels are usually more like 300W per kg at least near
> Earth's orbit.

Hmm, a fair point, though if your solar panels are in LEO, or on the
Moon, or low lunar orbit, then they're only producing that half the
time. When you add in energy storage to get through the night, I think
they look much less rosy.

Best,
- Joe