Anyone Out There?

[MikeVV]

Nucear propulsion has not been in the news for some time. Like Magneto-Hydrodynamics, it is an area of technology that appears to have gone into hibernation. Is anyone still actively developing devices in this (or these) fields?

 

[ChasBean1]

Mike, nuke propulsion is generally Navy stuff. All active US subs (I believe) are nukes. Many aircraft carriers are nukes. Some guided missle cruisers are nukes but are mostly being phased out with preference toward gas turbine engines. I think new subs (although I don't know how many are being commissioned these days) continue to have nuke plants as they are the best for sustained underwater operation. Lack of combustion engines means not having to surface...-Chas