True, Keith, though the anti-nuclear side has put up a stronger fight each time. With Galileo, it was mostly fringe groups. By Cassini, the anti-nuclear side got far more media attention and they even got some senators to join in the call to delay the launch.
Given that with a Prometheus type project you'd be talking about substantially more plutonium -- a reactor, not just an RTG -- that would make things tougher. If I recall correctly, there were already a number of Democrats in congress objecting to Prometheus/JIMO for that reason, and that's only likely to grow as the project becomes more real. And in the case of a Moon mission, opponents could argue that there is no real reason to go nuclear, since solar power should be adequate in the inner solar system.
I certainly hope we do make progress with space nuclear systems, but my read of the politics is that it's not certain they'll survive.
Space/Science » in reply to re: I hate to be a wet blanket...
re: I hate to be a wet blanket...
The whole thread (28 posts)
- Some gossip about Prometheus / JIMO
- I hate to be a wet blanket...
- Wasn't much of a fight. (n/t)
- The best flagship mission for Prometheus...
- re: I hate to be a wet blanket...
- I hate to be a wet blanket...