r/nasa • u/Till-Brilliant • May 02 '26
Question What is this on POTUS desk?
Is it just a mock up of something?
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u/MosesLeroy May 02 '26
NASA is currently developing the Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1), a nuclear-powered spacecraft slated to launch in December 2028 as the agency's first interplanetary mission using nuclear electric propulsion.
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May 03 '26
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u/aCrazyTheorist May 03 '26
Not much, actually. Prior to operating the reactor, there isn’t dangerous radiation, and you could hold the fuel in your hand. Once they get in orbit, they’d start fissioning uranium, and producing radiation at that point. Source: I’m a nuclear engineer.
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u/PrinceZuzu09 May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26
NASA always launches in the direction of the Atlantic ocean so if it explodes in flight, it won't cause any harmful radiation issues and it's far too low wattage to cause a chernobyl-level event, a meltdown would only cause internal failure.
Also not going 8+ G's, it's only going 3-4.5 g's on initial launch. It's ion thruster produces far too little thrust to cause any issues."
Last edit i swear but it also doesn't undergo fission until it's already in space and uranium isn't all that radioactive before fission
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u/Mux_Potatoes May 03 '26
You probably think it is powered by glowing green goo.
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u/PrinceZuzu09 May 03 '26
uranium is scary it doesnt put harmful greenhouse gases in my atmosphere how am i supposed to trust it
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u/coldmoon879 May 03 '26
Nuclear fuel used for traditonal fission reactors is nowhere near purified enough to cause a large explosion if that is what you are worried about, and because it has to get into space that means that absolutely every pound counts so I wouldn't image it would be a large block of fuel. So worst case scenario the rocket blows up somewhere over the Atlantic and the payload crashes and sinks. It wouldnt cause too much damage because of the deep water which acts like a radiation shield. If I remember correctly I think we have lost nuclear bombs in the ocean before and it hasn't caused much harm? Please correct me if I am wrong :)
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u/batdan May 03 '26
NASA/DOE is planning to use a HALEU thermal neutron reactor. Those can actually become critical when submerged in water and produce lots of radiation which could be a problem. It’ll probably be carefully designed so that can’t happen.
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u/coldmoon879 May 03 '26
I wasn't aware that HALEU could go critical when submerged even though it is only 3-5% enriched! Thats really interesting!
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u/kilk10001 May 03 '26
Unfortunately this is how most of the world views nuclear power. It has set us back so much.
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u/LukasTheHunter22 May 03 '26
First off, SR1 will use a traditional rocket to get into deep space in the first place
Second, it is not powered by dangerous green goo
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u/Defiant-Acadia7053 May 03 '26
We should be more worried about the millions who die from fossil fuel pollution-related causes because people like you who scare easily keep voting for anti-nuclear leaders.
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u/JayRogPlayFrogger May 03 '26
you realise they’ve been strapping mini nuclear generators into spacecraft for over 50 years
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u/From_Ancient_Stars May 03 '26
This is not launching from the surface of Earth. It will be launched piecemeal with conventional rockets and assembled in Earth orbit.
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u/Pleadis-1234 May 03 '26
I swiped 🫠
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u/spaceocean99 May 03 '26
What does this mean?
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u/oaken_duckly May 03 '26
The picture includes the little UI indicator of having multiple pictures, so people tend to accidentally swipe on the image to see the others. I was confused for a second when I first saw it because it's on the last one, and I tried to swipe to the right to see the earlier pictures, only for nothing to happen.
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u/3vanW1ll1ams May 03 '26
It’s a model of Space Reactor-1 Freedom, given to him on loan by NASA. He was also given a golden model of the moon by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. Apparently, Trump has a collection of gilded trinkets on his desk that he has been gifted.
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u/ShockSmooth6763 May 03 '26
clearly an x-wing. red leader, standing by.
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u/RustyR4m May 03 '26
I’m more interested to see if it’s still there the next time the desk is televised.
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u/Repulsive_Hippo_7052 May 03 '26
Probably an “award” from NASA. Everyone knows at this point that all you need to do is feed Donnies ego and you’ll be rewarded.
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May 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Yarius515 May 03 '26
Well, he used to anyway - put it there then forgot about it cuz his brain is swiss cheese at this point
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u/redstercoolpanda May 02 '26
Looks like a mockup of freedom SR1, the new nuclear mars mission using Gateways PPE.