The resource of a space nuclear tug being created in Russia has been revealed

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Since 2010, work has been underway in Russia to create elements of a space nuclear tug based on a transport and energy module (TEM) with a megawatt-class nuclear power plant. The spacecraft project was named "Zeus" (ROC "Nuklon").


The development of the preliminary design of the specified spacecraft (module) should be completed by July 2024 and will cost 4,2 billion rubles. The launch into orbit for flight testing of the finished product should approximately take place in 2030.

At the same time, the resource of the Zeus nuclear propulsion system (NPU) based on the TEM will be only 10 years. However, in a decade, the spacecraft (module) may have time to conduct several important missions to the planets of our solar system. This is stated in the April publication of the monthly popular science and information-analytical magazine "Russian Space" (owned by the state corporation "Roscosmos").

The estimated resource of a nuclear power plant is 10 years. During this period, the module is able to complete several missions, returning to low Earth orbit for docking with the next payload and refueling with the working fluid for electric rocket engines.

- the details are disclosed in the material.

It is clarified that Zeus will first be tested on Earth, and then, when it is put into a radiation-safe orbit (RBO) of our planet, exceeding 800 km, the folding elements will be brought into the flight configuration and the NUCLEAR will be launched. After it exhausts its resource, it can either be left on the Earth's RBO or sent into deep space. If a decision is made to leave the "Zeus" in orbit, its folding elements will be folded, and the nuclear power plant will be turned off. On the RBO of the Earth of a specified height, it will not interfere with anyone and will be able to calmly stay for hundreds of years.

It is assumed that the first mission of "Zeus" will last 50 months, will take place from 2030 to 2034 and will be fully automatic. The nuclear tug and payload will be launched into orbit from the Vostochny cosmodrome by several launch vehicles. Then docking will occur and it will go to the Moon, fly around it and return to Earth. After that, another payload module will dock to the Zeus, and it will fly towards Venus, perform a gravity maneuver and head towards the moons of Jupiter.
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  1. Sergey Latyshev Offline Sergey Latyshev
    Sergey Latyshev (Serge) April 10 2022 19: 51
    -3
    Here. And Rogozin's tug returned again. It will surf the cosmic expanses like the donkey of Khoja Nasretdin....
    1. 123 Offline 123
      123 (123) April 10 2022 21: 05
      -2
      Here. And Rogozin's tug returned again. It will surf the cosmic expanses like the donkey of Khoja Nasretdin....

      There is nothing surprising request There their whole herd grazes, winged pegasi in a vacuum yes It is strange that they did not mention a friendly visit to the Lunar base of sworn partners. It seems like everyone is going to build it too. And journalists all these years will periodically tell the public about the plans.
    2. Bob Sencler Offline Bob Sencler
      Bob Sencler (Bob Sencler) April 17 2022 23: 47
      0
      This development was tested and described in the monograph "Electric interplanetary ships"
      Gilzin Karl Alexandrovich. Publisher: Moscow, "Nauka", Year: 1970. (There is a second, updated edition).
  2. steelmaker Offline steelmaker
    steelmaker April 10 2022 19: 56
    +6
    will be completed by July 2024 and will cost 4,2 billion rubles.

    For Russia, this money means nothing!! And in scientific and technological terms, this is a step forward. Good luck!
    1. Khaertdinov Radik Offline Khaertdinov Radik
      Khaertdinov Radik (Radik Khaertdinov) April 12 2022 12: 20
      +3
      If this project were to be kept away from any freeloaders, then "there will be no price for it" for the Russian Federation! And then immediately "friends will be drawn" in the form of NASA, etc. and it will turn out like with the ISS! Russia IM technology, its orbital experience, and THEY - sanctions, etc.! In general, "stepping on a rake" is no longer necessary!
  3. Andreysradinsky Offline Andreysradinsky
    Andreysradinsky (Andrew) April 10 2022 20: 28
    0
    to Mars at the point of closest approach 55 million km. there and back to fly 1 year. Jupiter is 778 million km. ..to fly for 14 years. Zeus resource 10 years. Cool. At least use a calculator
    1. EXPrompt Offline EXPrompt
      EXPrompt (EXPrompt) April 10 2022 22: 58
      +1
      Today, even the developers of the date will not tell you how long Zeus will fly to Jupiter Mars.
      That's the problem that engines make it, and there are several options. Which one will play - no one can predict.
      You never know, by 2030 the magneto-plasma-dynamic engines will complete the engines.
    2. Viktor Klimets Offline Viktor Klimets
      Viktor Klimets (Viktor Klimets) April 10 2022 23: 22
      +6
      If it takes 1 year to Mars (or maybe 3 weeks ???), then a car will travel 14 times more distance in 14 times more time, and a rocket, oddly enough, can cover such a distance in half a year, and in 5 years, and in 15 ... It all depends on the parameters of the engine and gravitational maneuvers ... According to the calculations of Russian scientists, ... a nuclear rocket engine "can reach Pluto in 2 months and return back in 4 months with the cost of 75 tons of fuel, to Alpha Centauri in 12 years, and Epsilon Eridani in 24,8 years." Obviously, the resource will not be enough for Alpha .. Give a calculator for verification?
      1. faiver Offline faiver
        faiver (Andrei) April 11 2022 12: 03
        0
        and if he puts three YARDs? smile
    3. ont65 Offline ont65
      ont65 (Oleg) April 18 2022 07: 29
      +1
      Travel time depends on the choice of trajectory (with or without braking), resource and task (to return or stay). Voyager-1 spent 546 days on a flyby trajectory. The most unhurried device Galileo reached Jupiter in 6 years. There is not enough data to work with the calculator yet.
  4. 135lm Offline 135lm
    135lm (Gennady) April 11 2022 00: 42
    +3
    What would it mean - ZеVс?)))
  5. dub0vitsky Offline dub0vitsky
    dub0vitsky (Victor) April 11 2022 16: 21
    +2
    Quote: andreyzradinskiy
    to Mars at the point of closest approach 55 million km. there and back to fly 1 year. Jupiter is 778 million km. ..to fly for 14 years. Zeus resource 10 years. Cool. At least use a calculator

    In order to use a calculator, you need to have brains. Calculations with the energy of chemistry and the nucleus are very different. Due to the higher temperature of the working fluid and the absence of an oxidizing agent (mass). achievable speed on these principles is many times greater. Chemicals fly by inertia, since burning fuel half the time is having a mass of hundreds of thousands of tons. Only hydrogen can be taken much less and fire it all the way. Acceleration first, then deceleration. Shake your brains. Calculator.
  6. dub0vitsky Offline dub0vitsky
    dub0vitsky (Victor) April 12 2022 15: 53
    0
    Quote: faiver
    and if he puts three YARDs? smile

    The damned CUBE-SQUARE ratio works everywhere and everywhere. The thrust of the three engines depends on the total area of ​​the jet outflow from the nozzles, and these are square units. And the mass of the structure of the three propulsion systems is cubes. When increasing, cubes grow faster than squares, in which case there will be a clear loss. That is why, no Godzillas are possible. Power is a cross-section of muscles - squares, and weights - cubes. This crap can't even move.
  7. Omas Bioladen Offline Omas Bioladen
    Omas Bioladen April 18 2022 21: 43
    0
    Kann man es nicht auf Tel Aviv abstürzen lassen?