Prometheus-class (An Orion Future)

Prometheus-class is name of first type of nuclear pulse spacecrafts in the world. It was developed by USA at early 1960's and used near 20 years with little changes.

Technical information

 * First lauch: 19.3.1965
 * Empty mass: 780 t
 * Full mass: 1300 t
 * Ship height: 37 m
 * Ship diameter: 24,5 m
 * Bomb mass: from 360 to 300 kg
 * Bomb yield: from 40 to 30 tons of TNT
 * Number of bombs: 1500 or less
 * Payload to escape velocity: 250 t
 * Payload to Moon and back: 150 t
 * Launch cost: 48 000 000 $*

(* = Cost at 1960's. About 360 millions in today's money.)

Prometheus-class spaceships used big, conventional, reusable rocet as first stage. It had following characteristics:


 * Empty mass: 590 t
 * Full mass: 3950 t
 * Thrust: 144 MN
 * Engines: 9xRocketdyne F-2
 * Crew: 2
 * Fuel: LOX + RP-1
 * DeltaV: 3 Km/s with full payload

Launch
At launch first stage pulled spaceship 100 seconds with 3g acceleration. When stage was out of fuel, it was dropped and landed back to earth. Ship used it's own engines until it was 320 kilometers above ground and had speed of 2.5 Km/s. Then EMP:s from explosions become too big and craft flied freely about 800 Km, until it was high enough and can use nuclear pulses again.