AI gives a thumbs up to Brett Bellmore innovative modifications to Robert Zubrin's Nuclear Salt Water Rocket (NSWR). 

Switching from water to polyethene and storing in sausage strings could enhance its performance and safety, particularly focusing on avoiding criticality during storage, minimizing parasitic mass, and addressing practical challenges like micrometeorite protection and fuel state.

Robert Zubrin's Nuclear Salt Water Rocket (NSWR) design is a rocket that uses known physics and engineering. My previous analysis shows that the first working prototype might be made in space with a 10-20 year development program for 10-30 billion. There are versions that could reach 7-8% of light speed. The use of low grade uranium enrichment for a more near term version is the one that is often described. However, if weapons grade uranium (90% enrichment) is used then he exhaust would be at 1.575% of the speed of light. A 30,000 ton ice asteroid and 7500 tons of uranium could propel a 300 ton payload including a crew to 7.62% of light speed.

One of key parts of the engineering is to use water to protect the nozzle from the intense heat of the system. A combination of the coatings and space between the pipes would prevent the solution from reaching critical mass until it was pumped into a reaction chamber. It would reach critical mass and it being expelled through a nozzle to generate thrust. The nozzle would be protected by running water.

A Nuclear Salt Polyethene Rocket might achieve 8.19% of light speed and could have better safety characteristics. The nuclear salt water rocket is one of the most buildable designs for transporting people to other star systems. It builds on decades of experience with nuclear fission. There is even experience working on nuclear rockets.

Navy and commercial ships regularly have 100,000 tons of displacement. The SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster could have fueled masses of 6000 tons. The sizes of the large 8.19% light speed nuclear rocket are very practical. 200 deliveries of Starship payloads could assemble what is needed. Over 50 space shuttle missions were needed to build the International Space Station.

Here is the step-by-step looking at the safety of polyethene, micrometeorite handling, and the performance of a gaseous uranium mixture.

Overview of the NSWR and the Goals
The NSWR is a theoretical propulsion system that uses a solution of enriched uranium salts in water to drive a continuous nuclear fission reaction, expelling high-velocity exhaust for thrust. It promises high specific impulse and thrust, potentially enabling rapid interplanetary or interstellar travel—Zubrin's design suggests speeds up to 7.6% of light speed with a high mass ratio. However, storing the propellant safely (avoiding unintended criticality) while keeping the system lightweight is a key challenge, as parasitic mass (e.g., shielding or containment) reduces the achievable mass ratio and thus delta-V.