Russia tests nuclear propulsion spacecraft's key element

The cooling system, which is the most important element of the Russian space transport and energy unit developed on the basis of megawatt-class nuclear electric propulsion, has been successfully tested in Russia, materials published on the government procurement website on Monday stated.

"The works have been fully completed. The results meet the requirements of the technical specifications," the information posted on the website read.

The tests have been conducted in conditions as close as possible to the outer space. The project is developed by the Keldysh Research Center on request from the Russian Roscosmos state corporation.

Russia has been developing a unique project to create a transport and energy unit on the basis of a megawatt-class nuclear electric propulsion since 2010.

The propulsion includes a nuclear reactor and systems, required to produce the necessary heat, as well as for reactor control and protection. Technical solutions included in the concept of the unit will allow to solve a wide range of space tasks, including research programs of the Moon and distant planets.

In March, Roscosmos unveiled plans to spend around $27.7 million to design a super heavy-lift carrier rocket. The development is expected to be completed by October 31, 2019. The vehicle should be able to lift over 80 tonnes into low Earth orbit and be able to deliver at least 20 tonnes of payload to the Moon.

The project should include the possibility of increasing the rocket's carrying capacity to 140 and 27 tonnes to the two aforementioned distances. It is planned that the new carrier could be used for delivering space ships and stations not only to the Moon, but also to Mars and Jupiter.

Source: Sputnik News

Related Links
Roscosmos
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Russian investigators identify responsible for failed Soyuz launch
Moscow (Sputnik) Oct 19, 2018
Members of Roscosmos commission and investigators have identified those who could be responsible in the damage to one of the sensing devices on board the Soyuz-FG carrier rocket, which could have led to the failed launch of the Soyuz MS-10 manned spacecraft, a source at the Baikonur space center told Sputnik on Thursday. "The responsibility of certain employees is being established. The responsible [for the incident] are not only those who did something wrong but also their managers and supervisor ... read more