Reply #10: Nuke reactors in space

[probablereason]

It is within reason that the spy sat, which likely draws a lot of power needs based on a serious sensor platform, was powered by one of the really small reactors we have denied putting in orbit. The Russians lost a nuke sat over canada in the late 70's and the mess was a real problem. Supposedly, both us and the russians have developed some smaller reactors that have designs that address the deorbit dilemma, but its still proably not a cool thing to have happen.