Aerospace Picture of the Day

Just a quick heads up (thought); I'm toying with the idea of having "Theme Weeks" or whatever appropriate the timeline will be, for certain aerospace subjects. So for a given theme timeline most if not all pics/ videos/ articles with pictures and possibly videos, will be of a certain theme.

The first theme I am thinking will be of "Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power", because why not?

Just a quick heads up (thought); I'm toying with the idea of having "Theme Weeks" or whatever appropriate the timeline will be, for certain aerospace subjects. So for a given theme timeline most if not all pics/ videos/ articles with pictures and possibly videos, will be of a certain theme.

The first theme I am thinking will be of "Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power", because why not?

NASA Nuclear powered vehicle ASV-P02
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa ... ept-awards

So, feel like riding white-hot plasma waves from exploding nuclear bombs? Got a need to get to Mars in a hurry? Watch on! Must see for fans of nuclear propulsion in space!



Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYoLcJuBtOw

Theme: Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDNX65d-FBY

Theme: Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMzdKT0WdRM

Theme: Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMLgJlJX0Rk

Theme: Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvZjhWE-3zM

Theme: Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEZv_OXA_NI

Theme: Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

To recap:

1.) A nuclear thermal rocket has roughly twice the ISP of a chemical-based one, and is usually proposed to "burn" hydrogen due to its extremely low molecular weight

2.) A nuclear pulse engine (NPP) produces thrust by exploding nuclear-fissile and/ or fusionable materials, where, the radiation from the blast radiates in all directions, including back towards the ship, providing an impulse to the vehicle

3.) Typically, you have high thrust and low thrust duration, or low thrust and high thrust duration. An antimatter rocket promises, in theory, both worlds: high thrust like a chemical rocket and high thrust duration like an ion engine. In theory, an antimatter rocket could reach high fractional C (speed of light in a vacuum)

4.) Nearly all proposed nuclear "propulsion" concepts proposed thus far are reaction-based; some exotic concepts exist which will be explored at a later time

I will explore nuclear power in space (and on planetary bodies) in the next cycle of Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

Theme: Space Nuclear Propulsion/ Power

Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BDgQwlfHII

Theme: Northrop F-20 Tigershark

Original video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_VcNlOTu8g

Theme: Northrop F-20 Tigershark

RAND case study of the F-20 Tigershark

https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/papers/2009/P7495.pdf

Theme: Northrop F-20 Tigershark

Great videos, especially the 2nd one (hadn't seen it before). The RAND paper well, I'm always skeptical of RAND as its been the govt's favorite puppet when "independent" research is required to ban/snub/denounce something. Although to be fair, I agree with most of the points this paper makes re: the F-20.

One thing I never understood: Why no semi-recessed sparrow or AMRAAM carriage under the fuselage? They'd already done it on the F-4, F-14 etc. and it looks to me like there would have been room for at least 2. That would have presented a nice, low drag option of 2 Sparrow/2 Sidewinders - while leaving the centerline and other pylons still unoccupied.

Anyway, shame about the 2 crashes and deaths. The Canadian crash seemed to seal its fate, although to be fair there were many other factors. Not the least of which was the USAF not buying a single example....

Love the F-20. Torn between it and the Viper, but it was either / or. Viper had a lot more potential. Tigershark had some great maneuvering attributes and even less complex, but that's about it (besides the cool BMW color).

Put an AESA radar in it, 9Xs and a helmet and you've got a little maneuvering monster there. Of course, you lose a level of the complexity factor and I don't know how much more weight it'll add.