Russia will not build nuclear rocket engines

Russian federal agency Roscosmos has declined plans to build an interorbital tug vehicle with a nuclear electric propulsion unit.

Photo: Source: Pravda.Ru photo archive

According to the Izvestia newspaper, this type of engine was planned to be used during manned missions to the Moon in the 2030s. The idea was supported by then-chief of Roscosmos Vladimir Popovkin in 2012.

A manned mission to the Moon is scheduled to take place in 2035 with the help of oxygen-hydrogen interorbital tug MOB KVTK.

According to experts, the spacecraft will be able to deliver cargoes of up to 38 tons from near-Earth orbit to the Moon. It is assumed that nuclear engines, if they are ever used in the space program, will be used for longer flights, for example, to Mars.

Pravda.Ru

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