this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2023
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Miniature nuclear reactors have the power density to run a nuclear-electric airplane. If we developed a thorium airplane reactor, we wouldn’t even have to worry about the terrorism implications.
In that case it would only take a couple of planes worth of stealing before you jad enough plutonium for at least a dirty bomb if not a nuclear weapon lol.
Like wut? Thorium still needs plutonium to work and plutonium can be used for both cases just as uranium afaik.
Absolutely true, but the consequences of a crash are too dire to ever let this be a thing.
Plus, the ROI on a nuclear plane would be a joke. How you gonna pay for it? Maybe break even after 500,000 flights? :)
And then there's the maintenance and professionals and on and on.
Yes the ROI would be abysmal. It would have to be operated at a loss, like lots of public transportation is.