# Questions about Project Orion and nuclear propulsion **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161 "2023-06-07T18:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/21 "2023-06-09T21:37:56Z")
I did specify an ELE (Extinction Level Event) and Footfall (the novel mentioned) was an explicit alien invasion. So yeah, I don’t think anyone considers Orion a good option (for a Earth-based liftoff especially!) short of desperate need. Which is why I was suggesting NERVA or other NTP options upthread as better ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/22 "2023-06-09T21:38:21Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Outside of an alien invasion type emergency, an Orion craft will never lift from the surface of Earth under the Orion drive. Yeah, that’s the fundamental contradiction of Orion. It would absolutely kick ass as a heavy lift vehicle, I don’t think anything short of a space elevator could even give it a run for its money, but there’s no way anyone even remotely sane would ever approve one for normal operations. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/23 "2023-06-09T21:41:17Z")
You know, I know what ELE means, but for some reason, I thought it was a direct reference to the aliens in footfall, them being elephant like. It’s been a long week. Anyway, I didn’t mean to be seeming to contradict you, though I also agree with @Horatius that, if it weren’t for the massive environmental damage it would do, it would be a great way to get things into orbit. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/24 "2023-06-09T21:44:13Z")
And I agree with you and Horatius as well. It is by all appearances a workable (if with huge consequences) way around the immense cost of heavy lift to orbit that is the bane of all our major ambitions in space. And it would be so “easy”. It’s like the Dark Side of the Force that way… ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/25 "2023-06-09T21:47:16Z")
I know the The Test Ban Treaty prohibits exploding nukes in space, but is there a limit to the distance? How far away would you have to be before it didn’t matter? > [@Andy\_L](#): > > P.S. In Pournelle and Niven’s Footfall, the experience of being in an Orion spaceship is described as “God was knocking, and he wanted in bad.” I love that line. Great visual. How frequently was the proposed duration between explosions on an Orion craft? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/26 "2023-06-09T22:48:14Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I love that line. Great visual. How frequently was the proposed duration between explosions on an Orion craft? About once a second, I think. A nice dignified slow knocking ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/27 "2023-06-10T12:57:49Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Outside of an alien invasion type emergency, an Orion craft will never lift from the surface of Earth under the Orion drive. Or maybe a fractured fragment of a once-great nation, a thousand years after the War of Judgement, trying to reclaim its glory days. Though there, at least, the sane characters regarded it as something to be used from the surface only a few times, so as to establish a proper infrastructure base in orbit, and thenceforth to use them only in space. > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I know the The Test Ban Treaty prohibits exploding nukes in space, but is there a limit to the distance? How far away would you have to be before it didn’t matter? Further than any other signatories have the ability to project force. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/28 "2023-06-10T21:37:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > fractured fragment of a once-great nation, a thousand years after the War of Judgement, trying to reclaim its glory days. That sounds interesting! What book/comic/movie series is it from? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/29 "2023-06-11T00:11:34Z")
Orion will Rise, a novel by Poul Anderson. It’s great world-building, if you can tolerate that most of the main characters are total pricks. Although that’s a bit of a spoiler, since you don’t actually get confirmation that the title is a reference to nuclear propulsion until like 2/3 of the way through the book. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/30 "2023-06-11T00:22:38Z")
Thanks! I may check it out [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161.md?page=1)