Can nuclear power be used for planes?
Most likely yes. Both the US and USSR experimented with compact nuclear reactors designed to fit inside large aircraft and capable of supplying the large amount heat required to power a jet propulsion system that didn’t burn fossil fuel during the 1950s and 1960s. Many aircraft carriers and submarines currently use uranium fueled nuclear reactors that can provide propulsion for long periods without refueling. There are also applications in the space sector with nuclear thermal and nuclear electric engines which could be more efficient than conventional rocket engines.
Why can’t we make nuclear-powered planes?
The NB-36H flew its final test flight in 1957. The Air Force had demonstrated that a nuclear reactor could be safely operated aboard aircraft—barely. The weighty shielding to protect the crew from radiation made the future of crewed nuclear aircraft doubtful. One of the biggest challenges is the weight of the nuclear reactor itself and the shield necessary to protect the crew and those on the ground. Additionally, while most aircraft are lightweight, the equipment needed to produce nuclear energy weighs a lot.In theory, nuclear-powered flight is feasible and, in some ways, even desirable. You could fly from London to Sydney without refuelling and all but eliminate greenhouse gas emissions while you’re at it.
What countries have nuclear-powered aircraft?
Currently, only the United States and France possess nuclear-powered aircraft-carriers. The United States Navy has by far the most nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, with ten Nimitz-class carriers and one Gerald R. Ford-class carrier in service. With a naval fleet that includes as many as 71 nuclear submarines, the U. S. Navy possesses the largest and arguably most capable nuclear submarine force in the world. The American submarine fleet includes 53 fast attack submarines, 14 ballistic missile submarines and 4 guided missile submarines.Currently, only the United States and France possess nuclear-powered aircraft-carriers. The United States Navy has by far the most nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, with ten Nimitz-class carriers and one Gerald R. Ford-class carrier in service.