Nukes & solar panels

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Ok, but you got my point. If you could launch
a Zenith, you could also
launch something larger with a larger platform. I'm not a nuke freak, I just
get frusterated with the progress of Chemical launchers. After the X-33
debacle, I sometimes wonder if SSTO is pie in the sky without something more
powerful than chemical reactions. Ocean launch seems to be a way to solve the
Nimby problem. There are 130 degrees along the equator of Pacific Ocean,
that's 36% of the entire Earth's circumference and it takes the space shuttle
about 32 minutes to cross the Pacific ocean along the equator while in orbit,
that sounds like enough distance and time for a manned nuclear rocket to
reach orbit safely. The Human occupants would have to be shielded from the
reactor, but the reactor wouldn't have to be completely enclosed by
shielding, only in the direction of the crew cockpit. Since no combustion is
involved it would be easier for the reactor to heat air and then heat onboard
hydrogen at higher altitudes until orbit is reached. We've put off nuclear
rocketry long enough, sooner or later after being frusterated by chemically
powered SSTO concepts we may turn to nuclear rocketry. But who knows perhaps
some version of chemical SSTO may work after all.
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The H2 fuel itself, could be used to provide shielding for the hot reactor,
until it was exhausted that is. But what about EVA's? You may have to include a
tank of liquid mercury, that can be pumped around the reactor core to provide
shielding during EVA's. The high density of the mercury makes it a perfect
shield against the gamma rays of decaying fission products. In any case, it
would probably be best to wait a few days after launch, before trying EVA's.
That gives enough time for the nasty short lived fission products to decay.
Lithium Hydride is probably about the most effective neutron shield material
available for nuclear rockets, since it is storable for long periods, and it has
a relatively high hydrogen content per unit weight.

A good starting point for SSTO would be air breathing chemical concepts. Air
breathing chemical engines would have effective Isp's of well over 1000 seconds
in earths atmosphere. Air breathing engines are complicated yes, but I for one,
would rather pay a little extra in development costs, than take a 10 REM dose
every time I ride into orbit on a nuke.
Tony