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Old 08-13-2019, 12:44 PM   #2075
L.J.Steele
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Default Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Speaking of the Russians -- there's conflicting accounts of the Russian nuclear accident last Thurs. Rumor is the Russians were testing a "nuclear-powered cruise missile that they call Burevestnik." The same missile is known by NATO members as SCC-X-Skyfall." Apparently the U.S. did try to develop a nuclear-powered cruise missile in the 1960s but Project Pluto, as it was called, was scrapped because it was considered too dangerous.

"Think of it like a mini Chernobyl on a missile," MIT's Narang said. "It's an air-breathing cruise missile and they put an unshielded mini nuclear reactor on it. Obviously, that's pretty bats--- insane. We tried this in the 1960s and gave up for a reason, and this is why. It's very risky."

* * *

"Is it dangerous? Yes!" Lewis said. "I think the phrase 'flying nuclear reactor' tells you all you need to know. You've got air blowing through an open nuclear reactor and spewing out the back."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/r...-beat-n1041721
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