Project Timberwind
Encyclopedia
Project Timberwind aimed to develop nuclear thermal rocket
s. It was under the aegis of the Strategic Defence Initiative ("Star Wars"), later expanded into a larger design in the Space Thermal Nuclear Propulsion (STNP) program. Advances in high-temperature metals, computer modelling and nuclear engineering in general resulted in dramatically improved performance.
Whereas the NERVA
engine was projected to weigh about 6803 kg, the final STNP offered just over 1/3 the thrust from an engine of only 1650 kg, while further improving the specific impulse
to 930 to 1000 seconds.
Nuclear thermal rocket
In a nuclear thermal rocket a working fluid, usually liquid hydrogen, is heated to a high temperature in a nuclear reactor, and then expands through a rocket nozzle to create thrust. In this kind of thermal rocket, the nuclear reactor's energy replaces the chemical energy of the propellant's...
s. It was under the aegis of the Strategic Defence Initiative ("Star Wars"), later expanded into a larger design in the Space Thermal Nuclear Propulsion (STNP) program. Advances in high-temperature metals, computer modelling and nuclear engineering in general resulted in dramatically improved performance.
Whereas the NERVA
NERVA
NERVA is an acronym for Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application, a joint program of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and NASA managed by the Space Nuclear Propulsion Office until both the program and the office ended at the end of 1972....
engine was projected to weigh about 6803 kg, the final STNP offered just over 1/3 the thrust from an engine of only 1650 kg, while further improving the specific impulse
Specific impulse
Specific impulse is a way to describe the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. It represents the derivative of the impulse with respect to amount of propellant used, i.e., the thrust divided by the amount of propellant used per unit time. If the "amount" of propellant is given in terms of mass ,...
to 930 to 1000 seconds.
Timberwind 45 Specifications
- Diameter: 13.94 ft (4.25 m)
- Vacuum thrust: 99208 lbfPound-forceThe pound force is a unit of force in some systems of measurement including English engineering units and British gravitational units.- Definitions :...
(441.3 kN) - Sea level thrust: 88305 lbf (392.8 kN)
- Vacuum specific impulse: 1000 s
- Sea level specific impulse: 890 s
- Engine mass: 3300 lb (1500 kg)
- Thrust to Weight Ratio: 30
- Burn time: 449 s
- Propellants: Nuclear/LH2
Timberwind 75 Specifications
- Diameter: 5.67 ft (2.03 m)
- Vacuum thrust: 165347 lbf (735.5 kN)
- Sea level thrust: 147160 lbf (654.6 kN)
- Vacuum specific impulse: 1000 s
- Sea level specific impulse: 890 s
- Engine mass: 5500 lb (2500 kg)
- Thrust to Weight Ratio: 30
- Burn time: 357 s
- Propellants: Nuclear/LH2