Editing Spacecraft propulsion (section)

===Nuclear propulsion===
{{Main|Nuclear propulsion#Spacecraft}}
[[File:Plasma propulsion engine.webp|thumb|3D sketch of an [[electromagnetic propulsion]] [[Plasma propulsion engine|fusion plasma]] thruster]]
[[Nuclear fuels]] typically have very high [[specific energy]], much higher than chemical fuels, which means that they can generate large amounts of energy per unit mass. This makes them valuable in spaceflight, as it can enable high [[specific impulse]]s, sometimes even at high thrusts. The machinery to do this is complex, but research has developed methods for their use in propulsion systems, and some have been tested in a laboratory.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-25 |title=Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: Game Changing Technology for Deep Space Exploration – NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/tech-demo-missions-program/nuclear-thermal-propulsion-game-changing-technology-for-deep-space-exploration/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Here, nuclear propulsion moreso refers to the source of propulsion being nuclear, instead of a [[nuclear electric rocket]] where a [[nuclear reactor]] would provide power (instead of solar panels) for other types of electrical propulsion.

Nuclear propulsion methods include:
*[[Fission-fragment rocket]]s
*[[Fission sail]]s
*[[Fusion rocket]]s
*[[Nuclear thermal rocket]]s (NTR)
*[[Nuclear pulse propulsion]]
*[[Nuclear salt-water rocket]]s
*[[Radioisotope rocket]]s