Project Timberwind

Timber Wind was a program of the U.S. DARPA to develop a nuclear rocket engine for use in the context of the SDI program. The project ended in 1992. The predecessor of this project was the 1972 finished project NERVA.

The development of an efficient, compact reactor with spherical fuel elements was in connection with the multi- Megawatt ( MMW ) project, which aims to produce high electrical energy in space was for a longer period, as provided for SDI - energy weapons.

The Timber Wind rocket should (45 Timber wind) come as a second stage on an Atlas and in the version of Timber Wind 250 on a Titan rocket used.

Specifications

  • Type: Timber Wind 250 rocket stage
  • Gross weight: 170 t
  • Net weight: 45 t
  • Thrust: 2,450 kN
  • Burning time: 493 s
  • Diameter: 8.70 m
  • Length: 30 m
  • Fuel: Nuclear with spherical fuel / LH2
Strategic Defense Initiative Specific impulse
775750
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