Latest / Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
The Medusa Drive: A Starship Pulled by Nuclear Bombs (Narration Only)
What if a starship could ride nuclear explosions to the planets and stars, not by being pushed from behind, but pulled from the front? The Medusa Drive uses a gigantic sail ahead of the spacecraft to catch the blast of nuclear bombs, stretching its tethers and dragging the ship forward. We explore how this bizarre nuclear propulsion system works, why it may outperform Project Orion, and whether a giant nuclear “parachute” could someday carry ships across the Solar System or even between the stars.
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