# How can you use nuclear energy to power a missile?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-use-nuclear-energy-to-power-a-missile/838779>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 17, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-use-nuclear-energy-to-power-a-missile/838779 "2019-08-17T01:38:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-use-nuclear-energy-to-power-a-missile/838779/41 "2019-08-20T14:30:04Z")

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> [@Frankenstein\_Monster](#):
>
> The [Wiki Project Pluto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pluto) page mentions 500,000 pencil-sized ceramic fuel elements. I guess we’re talking 1000’s of air channels. Assuming a 1cm diameter and 3m length we could be talking 100’s of sq.m. surface area. That could work with your lower heat transfer performance.

Ah - thank you for the link. High temperature ceramics with metal like properties have been the holy grail of gas turbines and airplane engines. Much research has been done on them but steam cooled materials had always won traditionally due to simplicity and reliability. Looks like new materials have been developed

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