NASA Study Summary: RIFT nuclear Saturn stage 1961

[luke strawwalker]

Here's another fairly short study but has a lot of good information, and would make a NEAT future/fantasy scale vehicle-- The RIFT (Reactor In-Flight Testing) vehicle. Two variants were proposed that would lead to a flight-certified nuclear stage-- a two stage variant lifted by a Saturn I first stage, and a three stage variant that would have been lofted by a Saturn I first stage coupled with a "then-notional" S-II second stage 260 inches in diameter powered by four J-2 engines, topped by the RIFT nuclear third stage. The vehicle in this report was capable of launching over 40,000 pounds to the moon-- similar to Saturn V.

Here's the study-- relevant pics to follow...

Later! OL JR

View attachment NASA study summary- Reactor In-Flight Testing Program (RIFT).txt

 

[luke strawwalker]

Ok... the first pic is a diagram showing the two different configurations... the three stage variant and the two stage variant.



The second pic is a dimensioned drawing of the two-stage variant.



The third pic is a two stage variant with the components labeled.



The fourth pic is the three stage variant with the components labeled.



The fifth pic is a dimensioned drawing of the three stage variant.



More to come... OL JR

 

[luke strawwalker]

Ok, here's the last two pics from the study...

The first is the nuclear RIFT stage in the two-stage variant-- the stage was shortened for less propellant capacity since the S-I stage was limited in the weight it could lift. Note the lower propellant capacity and lift capability listed in the second summary chart...



The second pic is the nuclear RIFT stage in the three-stage configuration, with a full propellant load of 90,000 pounds. This variant would have required the notional S-II stage that was to be 260 inches in diameter and powered by four J-2 engine, as referenced in prior study summaries... The performance of this variant was about on-par with a Saturn V...



Note the thrust structure of the upper stages was different from the S-IVB stage-- the S-IVB used a conical ribbed frustrum for it's thrust structure to tie the J-2 engine to the LOX propellant tank-- the RIFT stage used an open-frame aluminum tube thrust structure to connect the nuclear RIFT engine to the stage, with the propellant tank, pressurization system, turbopump (powered by bleed gas from the reactor chamber) and verniers (also powered by bleed gas) located on/around this thrust structure...

These would be neat builds to see... OL JR