Roscosmos Sets Russian Nuclear Space Tug for Launch in 2030

Jan. 29, 2020 (EIRNS)—Roscosmos has announced that it will be launching a nuclear power “space tug” by 2030. The announcement was made in a presentation by Roscosmos First Deputy Director General Yuri Urlichich at the 44th Korolev Academic Space Conference, reported TASS.

“The Launch of a Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft, and Flight Tests (2030),” the presentation reads. After 2030, the nuclear-propelled space vehicle must enter serial production and commercial use, it says. This involves building a testing and experimenting facility and the perfecting of a nuclear engine on the ground, including conducting resource tests. A mock-up engine is scheduled for this year.

Initially, Rosatom had planned to build a test, megawatt nuclear propulsion engine for distant space travel by 2018, which was to be installed on a spacecraft, codenamed “transport energy module.” The work commenced in 2009.