Russian nuclear-powered spaceship

[Suzy]

"Russian president backs nuclear spaceship". A proposal for a nuclear-powered space tug. I think this is a nuclear spaceship, not a rocket as reported in the article, so it wouldn't be activated until it reached orbit?

 

[JamesG]

Hope not. lol!

Nuclear powered spacecraft are nothing new. This sounds like (besides hot air) just a scaling up of existing radiothermic batteries with an ion thruster.

One can only hope thought that this is the first serious talk/commitment to building actual deepspace ships that are not just expendable rockets used narrowly for one single mission.

---------- Post added at 04:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 AM ----------

Hope not. lol!

Nuclear powered spacecraft are nothing new. This sounds like (besides hot air) just a scaling up of existing radiothermic batteries with an ion thruster.

One can only hope thought that this is the first serious talk/commitment to building actual deepspace ships that are not just expendable rockets used narrowly for one single mission.

 

[Urwumpe]

"Russian president backs nuclear spaceship". A proposal for a nuclear-powered space tug. I think this is a nuclear spaceship, not a rocket as reported in the article, so it wouldn't be activated until it reached orbit?

The russians have some experience with operating nuclear reactors in space...sadly, the leaked coolant is still a major hazard in polar orbit.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Perhaps, it's by way of this concept:

 

[Suzy]

Oh, and to clarify: do the spaceship engines use a nuclear reactor to power electrical propulsion engines (rather like the solar array-powered electrical propulsion unit mentioned on the Energiya Mars section)?

 

[Andy44]

Oh, and to clarify: do the spaceship engines use a nuclear reactor to power electrical propulsion engines (rather like the solar array-powered electrical propulsion unit mentioned on the Energiya Mars section)?

You mean the engines in the article you linked to in the OP? Not enough information. If they gave a figure for specific impulse or thrust you could figure it out. Basically, if the Isp is about 800-1100 seconds it's a nuclear thermal rocket, if the Isp is up in the multiple thousands of seconds it's nuclear electric.

 

[SiberianTiger]

You mean the engines in the article you linked to in the OP? Not enough information. If they gave a figure for specific impulse or thrust you could figure it out. Basically, if the Isp is about 800-1100 seconds it's a nuclear thermal rocket, if the Isp is up in the multiple thousands of seconds it's nuclear electric.

Quoting the Federal Space Programme:

Paragraph 1.10 Advanced basic items, modern technologies and assuring reliability of rocket and space hardware (State Contractor per this paragraph and its sub-items: Roscosmos).
...
10. Development of nuclear power plant & engine combination of high performance for inter-orbital tug, multi-functional GEO-bound platforms and interplanetary spacecraft, code name: OKR YAERDU (Experimental Development of Nuclear Powered Electric Propulsion Unit).
Expected Results - YAERDU testbed article with electric power of 100 to 150 kW, thrust 40 kN, specific impulse 900 to 5000 sec, lifetime 1.5 to 3 years (2011 - 2018).
Beginning of development verification throgh experiments in 2014.

---------- Post added at 16:30 ---------- Previous post was at 13:34 ----------

Some of the presentation slides from presentation of A.S. Koroteev, the Head of Keldysh Scientific Centre, published today at Roscosmos website (http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=8069)

1. Dimensions (in metres) of a Nuclear Powered Tug with panel cooler body

1. Dimensions (in metres) of a Nuclear Powered Tug with drop infusion cooler body

3. Performances of some types of Hall's and ion engines

4. Combined 1 MW Hall's engines assembly

Give me a cry in case a translation effort is required.

 

[Suzy]

Diagrams also available in English version now, at the site!

Has Energiya abandoned the solar version of their proposed Mars mission, as described on their site?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Has Energiya abandoned the solar version of their proposed Mars mission, as described on their site?

Probably yes, because the design required the solar arrays to be enormous... And, besides, Russia simply doesn't have pellicular solar array technology available (while nuclear power units exist and backed by a strong lobby).

But in any case, I wouldn't bet much on what Energia is going to do beyound MRM-2 and MRM-1 production.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Um, sorry for bringing in more militaristic topics than an acceptable one day's average, but this seems to be on-topical:

http://spacereport.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-26-2010.html

Russian Company Eyes Offensive Military Satellite (Source: Russia Today)

Leading Russian spacecraft producer Energia has presented a concept of a universal military satellite with offensive capabilities. The 20-ton orbiter with a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years would be powered by a 150 to 500 kilowatt nuclear reactor and will be able to “monitor territories and airspace, provide informational superiority – including in armed conflicts – and perform target designation and traffic control. It will also be offensive-capable,” said Energia head Vitaly Lopota, as cited by ITAR-TASS news agency.

He did not specify what offensive capabilities the satellite would have; whether it will be able to target other spacecraft, ground targets, or both. The concept goes against Russia’s voiced intention to keep space an arms-free zone. However, with several nations believed to be actively pursuing space-based or anti-satellite weapons, Energia’s design may find support among the country’s leadership. (1/26)

It's necessary to add that meaning of the information quoted above has just been refuted by Energia's Press Service in following terms:

In reality, the message was about possibility to use such a spacecraft for all-weather monitoring of territories and airspace, as well as providing an information linkage of territories locked in natural disasters and local conflicts, and also to use it as an integrated part of Earth's planetary anti-asteroid defense system.

This is not the first time when mass media distribute information whose content is in direct contradiction with what had actually being told by a space industry high official. We hold no hope it will change anytime soon