I guess I'm not the only one watching For All Mankind this week.<p>This kind of nuclear research is obviously way less popular these days, but I do wonder if these engines could be made more practically with today's technology. Surely a lot of the dangerous testing could be replaced with simulation.<p>edit: Looks like there is some research being done, <a href="https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2023-07-26" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2023-07-26</a>