Rocket propulsion just wont cut it when exploring the solar system.

Too slow, too much space and weight for fuel - and yes too dangerous.

Lugging all that fuel around is much more dangerous than a well-built reactor.

Space travels biggest burden is 'delay time' years just don't cut it.

The 18 days approach of 1946 was far-fetched - but closer to the mark.

I think we should build a craft capable of getting to Pluto within six months if necessary.

Forget building them in space - just build em on earth and launch them conventionally with new mega-boosters. (plant the design plans at LORAL and label them ABOVE TOP SECRET - and let the Chinese build it for us within three years)

Activate the nuclear propulsion once 12000 miles from the earth. Build a nuclear powered docking station and base (the old rotating simple 1950's style)for them in a lunar orbit (why build everything so it crashes back on earth says I ;-)

Build half a dozen of these monsters, each about four times the size of the existing shuttle design.

The Leviathan
The Magnitude
The Cynorexia
The Radiance
The Observer
The Oligarch

Make them the space equivalents of our nuclear submarines. In other words make them big enough to travel for two years without need of servicing or reactor fuel.

Make them capable of hauling a heck of a lot of supplies and parts and scientific equipment.

That is the A-ticket.

Space radiation is already as dangerous as any waste we can dump en route.

Once electromagnetic propulsion is mastered the sky's the limit - but in the interim - nuclear is the way to go.

Best wishes,

SDAI-Tech1