The Solar System is a really big place, and it takes forever to travel from world to world with traditional chemical rockets. But one technique, developed back in the 1960s might provide a way to dramatically shorten our travel times: nuclear rockets. Of course, launching a rocket powered by radioactive material has its own risks as well. Should we attempt it? Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWhat Fraser's Watching Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1GWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterSupport us at: http://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at: http://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainFollow us on Twitter: @universetodayLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - http://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / [email protected]Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - [email protected]References:https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/game_changing_development/Nuclear_Thermal_Propulsion_Deep_Space_Explorationhttps://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19910017902.pdfhttps://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2017_Phase_I_Phase_II/Fusion_Enabled_Pluto_Orbiter_and_Lander/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20170003126.pdf