# USAF Tried to Develope a Nuclear-Powered Bomber?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usaf-tried-to-develope-a-nuclear-powered-bomber/490570>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 24, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usaf-tried-to-develope-a-nuclear-powered-bomber/490570 "2009-03-24T12:48:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usaf-tried-to-develope-a-nuclear-powered-bomber/490570/21 "2009-03-24T16:25:10Z")

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Power problems, and shielding problems:

> [@](#):
>
> In the 1950’s an attempt was made to build atomic powered bombers that could remain aloft for extended periods, before ballistic missiles were perfected. They were so big that they would have required a 10 mile runway (hence the eastern Idaho location).  
> …  
> The HTRE-3 assembly produced enough thrust to theoretically sustain a flight at 460 mph for about 30,000 miles. However radiation levels were still a problem; at one point in the tests, controls failed and released enough radioactivity to contaminate 1,500 acres.

> **[Chris Peters Artist // American Tonalism // TensorDream AI](http://www.chrispeters.com/)**
>
> Chris Peters Artist // American Tonalism // TensorDream AI

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**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usaf-tried-to-develope-a-nuclear-powered-bomber/490570/22 "2009-03-24T16:37:23Z")

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> [@Umbriel2](#):
>
> Here’s an article, originally published in _Smithsonian Air & Space_ magazine on the Pluto missile – a weapon so wonderfully horrendous that it’s a particular favorite of mine.

Wow. That thing is mentioned in a science fiction story I have. I thought it was just made up. Scary.

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usaf-tried-to-develope-a-nuclear-powered-bomber/490570/23 "2009-03-24T16:49:49Z")

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> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#):
>
> [I think you mean this article](http://www.merkle.com/pluto/pluto.html). Truly terrifying and awesome.

Yes, that’s the one I’m thinking of.

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**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:** [March 24, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usaf-tried-to-develope-a-nuclear-powered-bomber/490570/24 "2009-03-24T19:15:00Z")

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As soon as I started reading the thread, I hunted up that article myself. I should have known someone would beat me to it.

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