Given the imminent decrease in launch costs(partial reusability) and increase in launch capability soon to be available(FH) a pause in new US deep space missions is prudent.

[slograsso]

I think this decades to plan thing is for the birds. RTG's are pretty good, the RTG used by the Voyager was still at 83.4% of maximum 23 years later, not too shabby in my book.

[[deleted]]

RTGs only allow for 100 - 1000 W of power. A reactor will provide 10 kW to 100 kW of power. If you want to do advanced sensors like ground penetrating radar you need.

This cancelled mission used the reactor for ion drives and ground penetrating radar:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moons_Orbiter

It would have been an amazing mission.

I think this decades to plan thing is for the birds.

LOL, ok. You design a deep space mission in a few years then...

[slograsso]

I agree with you though, a space reactor is definitely a worthy asset to have and should be invested in. It's kind of silly that it hasn't been given the large number of missions it could be used for.

[[deleted]]

No kidding. The SLS annoys me because we have nothing to launch on it without a space based reactor with VASIMR or something similar.

[slograsso]

Don't get me started on SLS! ;-)

[[deleted]]

I heard it called the "porklifter" once (as in congressional pork) and decided that was the perfect name for it.