Orion Drive

[raniE]

How could one get a timeline wherein the Orion nuclear pulse drive, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_%28nuclear_propulsion%29, was actually used? What effects would this have on space travel, technology and the rest of history?

[Anaxagoras]

I don't think anyone has done a timeline on that particular subject. Needless to say, it would have been a big deal. A POD for it would have been a different Outer Space Treaty in 1967, or no treaty altogether.

[raniE]

I don't think anyone has done a timeline on that particular subject. Needless to say, it would have been a big deal. A POD for it would have been a different Outer Space Treaty in 1967, or no treaty altogether.
I think that one would have to go back even further, to the partial test ban treaty in 1963 at least.

[Tyr]

One use and I think that would be it. They would quickly realise it is not a good idea.

[raniE]

One use and I think that would be it. They would quickly realise it is not a good idea.
Why? It provides a lot of thrust while also having a high exhaust velocity meaning a high fuel-efficiency. Sure, there are problems (radioactive fallout, EMP), but it's a hell of a lot better at actual space travel than chemical rockets.