A nuclear explosive is an explosive device that derives its energy from nuclear reactions. Almost all nuclear explosive devices that have been designed and produced are nuclear weapons intended for warfare. Other, non-warfare, applications for nuclear explosives have occasionally been proposed. For example, nuclear pulse propulsion is a form of spacecraft propulsion that would use nuclear explosives to provide impulse to a spacecraft. A similar application is the proposal to use nuclear explosives for asteroid deflection. From 1958 to 1965 the United States government ran a project to design a nuclear explosive powered nuclear pulse rocket called Project Orion. Never built, this vessel would use repeated nuclear explosions to propel itself and was considered surprisingly practical. It is thought to be a feasible design for interstellar travel. Nuclear explosives were once considered for use in large-scale excavation. A nuclear explosion could be used to create a harbor, or a mountain pass, or possibly large underground cavities for use as storage space. It was thought that
Un explosivo nuclear es un dispositivo explosivo que deriva su energía de reacciones nucleares. Casi todos los dispositivos explosivos nucleares que han sido diseñados y producidos son armas nucleares destinadas a la guerra. Otras, no-guerra, aplicaciones para explosivos nucleares han sido propuestas ocasionalmente. Por ejemplo, la propulsión de pulso nuclear es una forma de propulsión de naves espaciales que utilizaría explosivos nucleares para proporcionar impulso a una nave espacial. Una aplicación similar es la propuesta de utilizar explosivos nucleares para la defección de asteroides. De 1958 a 1965, el gobierno de los Estados Unidos ejecutó un proyecto para diseñar un cohete nuclear explosivo impulsado por pulso llamado Proyecto Orion. Nunca construido, este buque usaría explosiones nucleares repetidas para propulsarse a sí mismo y se consideró sorprendentemente práctico. Se cree que era un diseño viable para los viajes interestelares.