Project Orion

This is Selden's minimal page about Project Orion.

Contents


0.0 Introduction.

The original Project Orion was a secret project in the late '50s and early '60s funded by ARPA, the USAF and NASA to design Nuclear Pulse powered spacecraft. They were to be propelled by nuclear explosions. The expanding plasma would impact a cushioned "pusher plate" at the rear of the spacecraft and push it forward.

At some point, I'm hoping to be able to provide an Addon for Celestia which demonstrates some of the Orion's features. Unfortunately, it keeps getting more and more complex and is stil incomplete.

1.0 Related Web sites.

2.0 Documents.

Many of these documents also are downloadable by way of the "Index to Documents" listed below and from the NASA Technical Reports Server.

Document sources:

3.0 Pictures.

Celestia displaying a model that I'm currently working on.
#1 10-m Orion orbiting Earth
10-m Orion orbiting Earth
(24jun05)
#2 10-m Orion orbiting Saturn
10-m Orion orbiting Saturn
#3 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
10-m Orion orbiting Mars
#4 updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
#4A updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars (wireframe)
updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars (wireframe)
#5 10-m Orion near Phobos
10-m Orion near Phobos
(added portholes; 1Jul05)
#6 updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
#7 Size comparison
Size comparison: 10-m through 40KT
(4Jul05)
#8 Size comparison
Size comparison: 10-m through 200mt
#9 updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
(added names and a color pattern; 4Jul05)
#10 updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
updated 10-m Orion orbiting Mars
(added logos and resized cargo)
#11 Phobos orbital insertion
Phobos orbital insertion.
    updates: (10Jul05)
  • logos
  • space taxies
  • scaled passenger section for 20 man crew
  • added plasma. If you look closely, you'll realize there's been a serious misfire!
#12 Phobos orbital insertion
Phobos orbital insertion.
    updates: (15Jul05)
  • shape of Mars Excursion Vehicles
  • number of pulse unit magazines at Mars
#20 Phobos orbital insertion
Phobos orbital insertion.
    updates: (27aug06)
  • shape of Philco Mars Excursion Modules
#13 In Phobos orbit
In Phobos orbit.
    updated 27Aug05:
  • structural support for cargo cannisters
  • pusher plate retracted
  • meteor shields extended over second stage shock absorbers.
#14 Saturn & Orion
Saturn lofter & Orion
(31Aug05)
#15

Apparently plasma flow would quickly damage any protrouding objects, so the outboard landers wouldn't survive long. Changing to inboard landers based on the early Philco Mars Excursion Modules.
Philco MEMs
Philco MEMs.

    updated 3Sep05:
  • structural supports and cannisters modified to make room for
  • Philco AeroNutronics Mars Excursion Modules
#16 Philco MEMs
Philco MEMs.
    updated 4Sep05:
  • revised Philco MEMs
#21 Orion in flight
Beauty shot: Orion in flight.
    updated 1oct06:
  • reduced polys
#17 Saturn & Launchpad
Saturn lofter on incomplete launchpad
#18 Saturn & Launchpad
Saturn lofter on updated launchpad
  • added overhead crane
  • added intermediate floors
  • added feet & ribs to platform
  • rotated Saturn 45 degrees
#19 Saturn & Launchpad
Saturn lofter w/ updated launch tower
  • major rework of launch tower (still more to do, though)
#20 Revised Orion at MarsRevised Orion orbiting Mars

Contents


[back to Contents]

A.0 Appendices.