Rolls-Royce 'Dragon' - Nuclear Ramjet

[Graham1973]

In the introductory notes to 'Prelude to Space' Arthur C. Clarke stated that he based the propulsion system for his spacecraft on a real project, a nuclear ramjet engine being worked on by Rolls-Royce, which he referred to as the "Rolls-Royce Dragon". I have no idea if it was a real project or not. I am reasonably sure it would only have been a paper project, but I would like to know, so if anyone has any more information I would be very happy.

 

[Graham1973]

I posted this query about eight years ago, I'd like to restate the question, pure fiction, or based on something Rolls Royce was actually looking into shortly after WWII?

 

[Zoo Tycoon]

In the early sixties there was a nuclear ramjet study carried out by Avro’s, most likely AWE, probably RAE and maybe a UK aero engine company. This is the Avro Z59 study. Although a “paper” study it would have required at least something to validate the sizing presented…. I’m not suggesting component testing in the UK… possibly access to the Project Pluto work? The reason I say Aero engine company is because Bristol Siddley had all the ramjet knowledge and Rolls Royce was working up its submarine PWR nuclear reactor knowledge. The submarine reactors are completely different from that required in a nuclear ramjet but, a few years earlier, Rolls Royce’s nuclear work was aimed at jet aircraft propulsion.

The available information on Z59 doesn’t include a break down as to study participants.

Another thought;- the Winfirth experimental Dragon high temperature Reactor;-

Dragon reactor - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

This project had an original design intend of contributing to British Nuclear jet engine development (I’ve seen the original proposal documents) but within a year or two of the project launch this aspect was dropped.

I’m sure Mr Clarke had a few tame aviation and nuclear industrial contacts so it’s easy to see where the names/thinking came from.

 

[Justo Miranda]

Project Pluto here

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/project-pluto-slam-model-kit-in-development.11495/



https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/new-project-pluto-poster.7133/



https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/project-slam-pluto.1319/#post-10807