nuclear rocket
1
6.9
- noun
- /ˈnjuːklɪər ˈrɒkɪt/
- Specialized
:
cohete nuclear
- Manned launches to Mars utilizing lightsails or nuclear rockets will probably take place from Lagrange points.
Examples
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Nuclear rockets could accelerate larger payloads to much higher velocities than current chemical rockets.
Academic text (1992) -
Room temperature superconductors are the best for space weapons, aero weapons, and especially for submarines with nuclear rocket weapons.
Blog text (17) -
Before long, we'll all be going to the Moon for the weekend on nuclear rocket engines and save on our fuel bills in the bargain.
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However, as a result of the post-Apollo decisions to terminate research, space-rated nuclear rocket engines do not exist today.
Academic text (2006) -
Scientists believe a nuclear rocket could significantly shorten the journey to Mars.
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Using a nuclear rocket, we could send heavier payloads into deep space more efficiently.
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The concept of a nuclear rocket involves heating a propellant with a nuclear reactor to generate thrust.
Synonyms
535
3.9
A vehicle with a powerful engine that carries people or cargo into space
5
3.6
A machine that makes a push by throwing out its own fuel very fast for spaceships or missiles
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositional: 'nuclear' (powered by or relating to atomic energy) modifies 'rocket' (a vehicle propelled for space/military use), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a rocket using nuclear energy. This adj+noun pattern is cross-linguistically common and does not require specialized knowledge to grasp the basic concept, so it is transparently understandable.
Etymology
Nuclear rocket comes from a clear image: a nuclear reactor is used as the engine to heat gas inside a rocket, so the hot gas shoots out and pushes the craft. That's why it means a rocket whose engine uses nuclear heat to push it into space.