but the solution carries a significant penalty to the rocket's Isp. Energy production For energy production purposes, one might use a container located inside a solenoid. The container is filled with gaseous uranium hexafluoride, where the uranium is enriched, to a level just short of criticality. Afterward, the uranium hexafluoride is compressed by external means, thus initiating a nuclear chain reaction and a great amount of heat, which in turn causes an expansion of the uranium hexafluoride. Since the UF6 is contained within the vessel, it can't escape and thus compresses elsewhere. The result is a plasma wave moving in the container, and the solenoid converts some of its energy into electricity at an efficiency level of about 20%. In addition, the container must be cooled, and one can extract energy from the coolant by passing it through a heat exchanger and turbine system as in an ordinary thermal power plant. However, there are enormous problems with corrosion during this arrangement, as the uranium hexafluoride is chemically very reactive. See also Gas core reactor rocket Spacecraft propulsion References Brown, L.C. (2001). Direct Energy Conversion Fission Reactor: Annual Report For The Period August 15, 2000 Through September 30, 2001 Knight, T. (unknown date) Shield Design for a Space Based Vapor Core Reactor [online] available at archive.org External links Nuclear power reactor types Nuclear reactors Nuclear technology