Russian space agency Roscosmos is considering using the Zevs (Zeus) nuclear tug for cleaning up orbits flooded with space debris. The agency’s CEO, Yuri Borisov, made the announcement at the Tsiolkovsky International Space Films and Programs Festival in Kaluga.The statement comes as Russia has been the center of global criticism for the last two years for adding to the space debris problem by blowing up its own satellites in anti-satellite tests. Interestingly, this is another role envisaged for the under-development Zeus. The Zeus nuclear-powered space tug was designed for deep space flights from one orbit to anotherIn July 2021, Russian scientists released a paper showing that the tug could also double up for military roles like firing Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) at enemy aircraft and as a surveillance and reconnaissance platform transmitting information to anti-aircraft systems. Under development since 2010, Zeus’s preliminary design is expected to be finished by July 2024 and cost 4.2 billion Rubles (US$57.3 million). The tug is expected to be sent into space for test flights in 2030.
