the reactor experiments to see what their performances are,
Col.
Krisberg mentioned that the Nuclear Development Associates was studying a sodium-cooled stainless steel heterogeneous reactor which might be
acceptable. He said that work on the supercritical water reactor had
been curtailed, “
At 4:45 p.m. Dr. von Neumann left the moeting.
Dr, Rabi asked about the time scale on the development‘of aircraft.
in which these reactors could be used,
Gen. Keirn said that the time
scale will probably followthe usual pattern.
The Air Force has two or
thtlee study contracts at about the $400,000 level now, but the early
sixties seemed to be the best answer.
Col. Krisberg said that Boeing
and Convair have looked over the field, and made preliminary design
studies of the "fireball" in some specific plane designs.
There ensued a general discussion of the proposed budget for these
programs.
It was agreed that about $8,500,000 for ORNL and about
$5,000,000 for Pratt & Whitney for the fluid fuel reactor for fiscal
year 1955, and about $5,400,000 for the General Electric heterogeneous .
reactor studies seemed proper,
Gen. Keirn had remarked that the
$5,000,000 increase over fiscal year 1954 for the fluid fuel reactor
was all that they could do for the first year even on a Crash basis.
Mr, Whitman then inquired if the AEC program was tailored to a
specific proposal or if it were flexible enough so that the reactor,
could be used for missiles, if that were desirable.
(Gol, Wassell stated
. that the initial reactor experiments would occupy the next two years and
at that time we would have te decide on the end use,
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