SNAP-10A was an experimental nuclear reactor launched into space in 1965 • Hacker News Board

Re: SNAP-10A was an experimental nuclear reactor launched into space in 1965

#11

Post by DanielBMarkham » Sun, Dec 27, 2015, 3:08 PM UTC

rwmj wrote: post #10

In other news, a massive fusion reactor has been found near the earth that periodically releases uncontrollable bursts of energy and radiation. http://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/nicky/cme-chase.html

Not sure if I believe this. It's never visible in the night sky.

Re: SNAP-10A was an experimental nuclear reactor launched into space in 1965

#12

Post by raphaelj » Sun, Dec 27, 2015, 4:45 PM UTC

rwmj wrote: post #10

In other news, a massive fusion reactor has been found near the earth that periodically releases uncontrollable bursts of energy and radiation. http://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/nicky/cme-chase.html

You got me on this one.

Re: SNAP-10A was an experimental nuclear reactor launched into space in 1965

#13

Post by acidburnNSA » Sun, Dec 27, 2015, 8:09 PM UTC

rubyfan wrote: post #6

Also, isn't this the plot from Golden Eye?

No, but Project Excalibur was verry similar to the Golden Eye plot. Only difference is that it used nuclear explosions to pump x-ray lasers that would shoot down enemy ballistic missiles rather than directed EMPs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Excalibur

Fun fact though, detonating nuclear weapons in outer space causes very wide-spread EMPs. It's a very good thing that the Starfish Prime test was done out in the Pacific instead of at the Nevada test site.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish_Prime