# 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:** 1\ **Showing post:** 10
**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 7, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161/10 "2023-06-07T23:30:36Z")
I still think overall that NTP (Nuclear Thermal Propulsion) makes more sense than Orion platforms. For more see this related thread, and especially @Stranger_On_A_Train’s informed follow up on my comment: > [@Alternate applications of nuclear energy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-applications-of-nuclear-energy/951975/12): > > Since Orion has already been mentioned, I’ll toss out the NERVA style rockets, for a less-crazy option for nuclear assisted heavy lift capacity. Which isn’t a completely dead technology (well, more modern derivatives of nuclear thrust rockets are still being researched at least) - from the link above. An engine for [interplanetary travel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_spaceflight) from Earth orbit to Mars orbit, and back, was studied in 2013 at the MSFC with a focus on nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) engines.[[116]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA#cite_note-117) Since NTRs are at least… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-project-orion-and-nuclear-propulsion/985161)._