Author Topic: Russian nuclear propulsion  (Read 59058 times)

Offline yoram

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Russian nuclear propulsion
« on: 07/04/2015 04:09 pm »
Wikipedia[1] has a reference to a Russian nuclear propulsion project with a megawatt class reactor run by the Keldysh research center. The interview in [2] claims a prototype is expected for 2018. Is it known if that program is on track and does it have a concrete flight mission?

Nuclear propulsion would seem like an unique opportunity for Russia to "leap frog" western space efforts.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_propulsion#Russian_Federal_Space_Agency_development
[2] https://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/Articles_2012/Fall-Winter_2012/Interview_Koroteyev.pdf

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #1 on: 07/05/2015 05:38 am »
I suspect that this project would not get funding in 2016-2025 Federal Space Program because Russian Space exploration strategy choose Moon first approach :(
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #2 on: 07/05/2015 08:17 am »
This might be the MMB (Reusable Interorbital Tug) project. Anatoly Zak's book has several pages devoted to it in his "Russia in Space" book. It has received funding in the past, but I don't know what its current status is. Its a nuclear electric vehicle with power ranging from 0.5 to 6 MW, depending on the mission. Isp ranges from 50 to 90 km/s.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline savuporo

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #3 on: 04/06/2016 06:13 am »
Previous thread : https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36274.0

Head of Rosatom , Sergey Kirienko commented recently that they are still working on this, with 2018 date for tests
http://tass.ru/kosmos/2711628

Poorly captured RT article here : https://www.rt.com/news/334416-russia-space-nuclear-engine/
Unsourced speculation in Wired http://www.wired.com/2016/03/russia-thinks-can-use-nukes-fly-mars-90-days-can-find-rubles/
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Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #4 on: 04/08/2016 01:53 am »
I suspect that this project would not get funding in 2016-2025 Federal Space Program because Russian Space exploration strategy choose Moon first approach :(
I was wrong - it survived sequester, but sill unclear what exactly would be delivered in 2025. Stand by for tenders.
The good news - it still a joined project by ROSKOSMOS and ROSATOM
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline savuporo

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #5 on: 04/08/2016 02:17 am »
I suspect that this project would not get funding in 2016-2025 Federal Space Program because Russian Space exploration strategy choose Moon first approach :(
I was wrong - it survived sequester, but sill unclear what exactly would be delivered in 2025. Stand by for tenders.
The good news - it still a joined project by ROSKOSMOS and ROSATOM
Coming out of the space budget or is it a separate deal ? Isnt Rosatom basically running a net positive export business ?
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Offline baldusi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #6 on: 04/08/2016 12:39 pm »
May be the interagency project helps saving it? May be Rosatom is funding the bulk of the project?

Sent from my Classic using Tapatalk


Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #7 on: 04/09/2016 02:45 am »
May be the interagency project helps saving it? May be Rosatom is funding the bulk of the project?

Sent from my Classic using Tapatalk


AFAIK Funding would be provided by each partner of the joined project
More details about project were published here in Izvestia article by Ivan Cheberko:
Quote
Создание ЯЭДУ предусмотрено опытно-конструкторской работой «Нуклон» (бюджет 15,84 млрд рублей),
ОКР «Источник» (6,18 млрд рублей),
а также научно-исследовательской работой «Верификация» (300 млн рублей),
НИР «Отработка» (400 млн рублей)
и НИР «Ядро» (160 млн рублей).
В рамках ОКР «Нуклон» предусмотрено создание космического аппарата-демонстратора с готовностью к летным испытаниям в 2025 году
(операции по запуску и летной отработке проектом ФКП-25 не предусмотрены).
« Last Edit: 04/09/2016 08:05 am by fregate »
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #8 on: 06/25/2016 06:51 am »
Roscosmos announced a next tender of R&D program TEM (Joint project of Roscomos and Rosatom)
Link https://rns.online/military/Roskosmos-zakazal-razrabotku-yadernoi-energoustanovki-dlya-zvezdoletov-za-38-mlrd-rublei-2016-06-24/ (in Russian)
[zubenelgenubi: image attached]
PRICE TAG RUB 3,811,142,400
For Comparison price of producing and supplying of 3  LV Soyuz 2.1A RUB 3,325,110,690
i.e. cost of this stage (2016-2018) is approximately equal to the cost of three and half launchers Soyuz 2.1A

« Last Edit: 09/14/2020 08:19 pm by zubenelgenubi »
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline mfck

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #9 on: 06/25/2016 08:51 am »

Roscosmos announced a next tender of R&D program TEM (Joint project of Roscomos and Rosatom)
Link https://rns.online/military/Roskosmos-zakazal-razrabotku-yadernoi-energoustanovki-dlya-zvezdoletov-za-38-mlrd-rublei-2016-06-24/ (in Russian)

PRICE TAG RUB 3,811,142,400
For Comparison price of producing and supplying of 3  LV Soyuz 2.1A RUB 3,325,110,690
i.e. cost of this stage (2016-2018) is approximately equal to the cost of three and half launchers Soyuz 2.1A

The article says RUB 38B. Aren't you missing an OoM in your price tag?
« Last Edit: 09/14/2020 08:20 pm by zubenelgenubi »

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #10 on: 06/25/2016 08:54 am »
Quote
The article says RUB 38B. Aren't you missing an OoM in your price tag?
RUB 3.8 Billion it's a price of development of space tug for period 2016-2018, total price of R&D Program TEM is RUB 20 Billion, 17 billion is funded by state budget.
Please do not jump to conclusion for Order of  Magnitude in price difference: 
1. I checked price in TENDER documentation - please refer to PDF file attached.
2. Mystery solved - there is no dot/comma in URL while article title is correct 
"«Роскосмос» заказал разработку ядерной энергоустановки для звездолетов за 3,8 млрд рублей"
« Last Edit: 06/25/2016 11:54 am by fregate »
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #11 on: 06/26/2016 08:00 am »
Thanks Fregate. Launch is in 2020 on an Angara-A5. Mass is 20,290 kg with deployed dimensions of 53.4x21.6x21.6 m. TEM stands for Транспортно Энергетический Модуль (Transport and Energy Module).
« Last Edit: 06/26/2016 08:09 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline ChrisWilson68

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #12 on: 06/26/2016 08:24 am »
I hope this comes to fruition.  It holds the most promise of anything currently in the Russian space industry of making a contribution to global space exploration.  Nothing against continuing programs like Soyuz -- it's still valuable to continue capabilities, but they're not new contributions.

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #13 on: 06/26/2016 08:26 am »
Thanks Fregate. Launch is in 2020 on an Angara-A5. Mass is 20,290 kg with deployed dimensions of 53.4x21.6x21.6 m.
Are you attending Final Frontier event in Melbourne next week?
I doubt that launch would be in 2020 (and I wish I would be WRONG):
- Roscosmos did not start building Angara launch site in Vostochny (Spaceport development program to be approved by RF Government in Sep or later);
- In theory, Roscosmos could launch it from Plesetsk, but this particular mission requires a PLF (SZB) with Launch Escape System (RBAS), and RBAS should be ready for a maiden Federation mission in 2021
- Budget R&D project has a price tug of RUB 20 billion while RUB 17 billion, Roscosmos and Rosatom to raise remaining RUB 3 billion.     
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #14 on: 06/26/2016 08:35 am »
I hope this comes to fruition.  It holds the most promise of anything currently in the Russian space industry of making a contribution to global space exploration.  Nothing against continuing programs like Soyuz -- it's still valuable to continue capabilities, but they're not new contributions.

Well, this is not quite true - NASA Chief Bolden recognised that New Generation Russian Federation spacecraft (formerly known as PTK NP) could serve as a backup for Orion spacecraft for Deep space exploration missions and in April 2015 offered Roscosmos ride on SLS.   
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline gosnold

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #15 on: 06/26/2016 10:19 am »
What would be the delta-v of this stage with no payload?

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #16 on: 06/26/2016 10:25 am »
What would be the delta-v of this stage with no payload?
It is quite difficult even to guess/estimate without knowing values of Specific Impulse, thrust (to estimate gravity losses) and mass of propellant :(   
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Offline ChrisWilson68

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #17 on: 06/26/2016 10:29 am »
I hope this comes to fruition.  It holds the most promise of anything currently in the Russian space industry of making a contribution to global space exploration.  Nothing against continuing programs like Soyuz -- it's still valuable to continue capabilities, but they're not new contributions.

Well, this is not quite true - NASA Chief Bolden recognised that New Generation Russian Federation spacecraft (formerly known as PTK NP) could serve as a backup for Orion spacecraft for Deep space exploration missions and in April 2015 offered Roscosmos ride on SLS.   

I didn't say this nuclear propulsion program was the only thing that might contribute something new, I said it "holds the most promise".

As such, I was making a fundamentally subjective judgement.  In my opinion, the nuclear propulsion program holds more promise of making a substantive contribution than the PTK NP.

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #18 on: 06/26/2016 10:53 am »
I hope this comes to fruition.  It holds the most promise of anything currently in the Russian space industry of making a contribution to global space exploration.  Nothing against continuing programs like Soyuz -- it's still valuable to continue capabilities, but they're not new contributions.

Well, this is not quite true - NASA Chief Bolden recognised that New Generation Russian Federation spacecraft (formerly known as PTK NP) could serve as a backup for Orion spacecraft for Deep space exploration missions and in April 2015 offered Roscosmos ride on SLS.   

I didn't say this nuclear propulsion program was the only thing that might contribute something new, I said it "holds the most promise".

As such, I was making a fundamentally subjective judgement.  In my opinion, the nuclear propulsion program holds more promise of making a substantive contribution than the PTK NP.

Chris, it is not criticism - just my opinion, I truly believe that SHLV, new generation spacecraft for Deep Space exploration and multi-use nuclear-powered space tug are stepping stones for real Moon and Mars manned programs.
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline ChrisWilson68

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #19 on: 06/26/2016 04:16 pm »
I hope this comes to fruition.  It holds the most promise of anything currently in the Russian space industry of making a contribution to global space exploration.  Nothing against continuing programs like Soyuz -- it's still valuable to continue capabilities, but they're not new contributions.

Well, this is not quite true - NASA Chief Bolden recognised that New Generation Russian Federation spacecraft (formerly known as PTK NP) could serve as a backup for Orion spacecraft for Deep space exploration missions and in April 2015 offered Roscosmos ride on SLS.   

I didn't say this nuclear propulsion program was the only thing that might contribute something new, I said it "holds the most promise".

As such, I was making a fundamentally subjective judgement.  In my opinion, the nuclear propulsion program holds more promise of making a substantive contribution than the PTK NP.

Chris, it is not criticism - just my opinion, I truly believe that SHLV, new generation spacecraft for Deep Space exploration and multi-use nuclear-powered space tug are stepping stones for real Moon and Mars manned programs.

Sure, that's a reasonable position to take.  It's just that in my opinion the nuclear propulsion program is the more interesting of the two.

Offline gosnold

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #20 on: 06/26/2016 07:01 pm »
What would be the delta-v of this stage with no payload?
It is quite difficult even to guess/estimate without knowing values of Specific Impulse, thrust (to estimate gravity losses) and mass of propellant :(

I don't read Russian but I see in the pictures something about "70 km/s" which I think is the Isp and a mass of 20290kg. So it seems all that's missing is the mass of propellant, and maybe it's in the picture. If you can make sense of them, could you post a translation?

Offline asmi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #21 on: 06/26/2016 07:47 pm »
I don't read Russian but I see in the pictures something about "70 km/s" which I think is the Isp and a mass of 20290kg. So it seems all that's missing is the mass of propellant, and maybe it's in the picture. If you can make sense of them, could you post a translation?
70 km/s is exhaust velocity, Isp is Ve/g0, so 7136 sec.
Thrust is 18H (~2 kg force).
Propellant load is not specified on a picture, only total mass.
« Last Edit: 06/26/2016 07:50 pm by asmi »

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #22 on: 06/28/2016 06:48 am »
I don't read Russian but I see in the pictures something about "70 km/s" which I think is the Isp and a mass of 20290kg. So it seems all that's missing is the mass of propellant, and maybe it's in the picture. If you can make sense of them, could you post a translation?
70 km/s is exhaust velocity, Isp is Ve/g0, so 7136 sec.
Thrust is 18H (~2 kg force).
Propellant load is not specified on a picture, only total mass.
Some details in those 2 articles
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #23 on: 07/22/2016 04:47 pm »
An interesting new article in the recent RKK Energia official publication (2016 N2)
Архангельский Н.И., Акимов В.Н., Кувшинова Е.Ю., Синицын А.А.
Выбор параметров эллиптической орбиты базирования для повышения безопасности применения многоразовых ядерных буксиров
Link http://www.energia.ru/ktt/archive/2016/02-2016/02-05.pdf
SELECTING PARAMETERS OF ELLIPTICAL BASING ORBIT TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF NUCLEAR REUSABLE TUGS
ГНЦ РФ–ФГУП «Исследовательский центр имени М.В. Келдыша» (Центр Келдыша) Ул. Онежская, 8, г. Москва, Российская Федерация, 125438, e-mail: [email protected]
The State Scientiic Centre of Russian Federation – Federal State Unitary Enterprise
Research Centre named after M.V. Keldysh (Keldysh Research Centre)
8 Onezhskaya str., Moscow, 125438, Russian Federation, e-mail: [email protected]
Quote
Abstract: The design-ballistic analysis of the effect of parameters of elliptical basing orbits of the reusable interorbital tug based on the nuclear power plant and electrorocket propulsion system of megawatt-class safety and efficiency of its use in the program which provides heavy cargo traic to geostationary and near-Moon orbits has been made. It is shown that in comparison with the option of traditionally considered circular radiation safe orbit of altitude Hcir =  800 km the use of high elliptical basing orbits allows to reduce by approximately two orders the duration of staying in the single light of the tug itself and the launched payload in the area of intensive contamination with anthropogenic space debris. In this case the total weight of the payload to be delivered by the tug to target orbit can be signiicantly increased during its life cycle, as well as the xenon consumption per unit of weight of the payload to be delivered can be reduced
several times.
Key words: reusable interorbital tug, nuclear power plant, electrorocket propulsion system,
basing orbit.
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline Tywin

Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #24 on: 11/01/2018 02:00 am »
Some fresh news about this project  :D

https://www.rt.com/news/442521-nuclear-propulsion-system-russia/

[zubenelgenubi: image attached]
« Last Edit: 09/14/2020 08:23 pm by zubenelgenubi »
The knowledge is power...Everything is connected...
The Turtle continues at a steady pace ...

Offline fregate

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #25 on: 11/01/2018 10:48 pm »
Some fresh news about this project  :D

https://www.rt.com/news/442521-nuclear-propulsion-system-russia/
Nuclear Power Propulsion System for SpacecraftA. S. Koroteev, Yu. A. Oshev, S. A. Popov, A. V. Karevsky, A. Ye. Solodukhin, L. E. Zakharenkov, and A. V. Semenkin Keldysh Research Center, ul. Onezhskaya 8, Moscow, 125438 Russia email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286491960_Nuclear_power_propulsion_system_for_spacecraft

IMHO there are 2 parallel projects:
- Roskosmos/Rosatom joint project (Keldysh Research Center)
- RKK Energia (Space Tug "Hercules")
"Selene, the Moon. Selenginsk, an old town in Siberia: moon-rocket  town" Vladimir Nabokov

Offline Asteroza

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #26 on: 11/02/2018 12:50 am »
Some fresh news about this project  :D

https://www.rt.com/news/442521-nuclear-propulsion-system-russia/

It seems they are baselining a droplet radiator?!?
« Last Edit: 09/14/2020 08:24 pm by zubenelgenubi »

Offline tyrred

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #27 on: 11/02/2018 05:03 am »
Droplet radiator, interesting.  What is the TRL of that technology?

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #28 on: 09/12/2020 10:49 pm »
https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=11908.10280
Ekipazh radiators !? or this is just a prototype ?

Also it seems they abandoned the droplet radiator concept .
« Last Edit: 09/12/2020 10:54 pm by RON_P »

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #29 on: 09/13/2020 10:06 am »
https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=11908.10280
Ekipazh radiators !? or this is just a prototype ?

Also it seems they abandoned the droplet radiator concept .

I understand these pictures show elements of the 1 megawatt reactor (or more likely its prototype) that is being developed by KB Arsenal under a project started in 2010 and managed jointly by Roskosmos and Rosatom. Ekipazh, on the other hand, is a top-secret military project assigned to KB Arsenal by the Ministry of Defense in 2014. It uses a much more modest thermionic nuclear reactor and may have something to do with space-based electronic warfare. There does not seem to be a connection between the two projects.

Anyway, thanks for posting that link. The pictures are definitely interesting because even the 1-megawatt reactor has become shrouded in secrecy in recent years. I wonder where the they come from. No source is given by the person who posted them.



Offline Vacuum tube

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #30 on: 09/13/2020 10:57 am »

 I wonder where the they come from. No source is given by the person who posted them.

Army-2020, video from Arsenal closed exhibition
Smartphones is bane of security  :)
« Last Edit: 09/13/2020 10:59 am by Vacuum tube »

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #31 on: 09/13/2020 02:32 pm »
https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=11908.10280
Ekipazh radiators !? or this is just a prototype ?

Also it seems they abandoned the droplet radiator concept .

I understand these pictures show elements of the 1 megawatt reactor (or more likely its prototype) that is being developed by KB Arsenal under a project started in 2010 and managed jointly by Roskosmos and Rosatom. Ekipazh, on the other hand, is a top-secret military project assigned to KB Arsenal by the Ministry of Defense in 2014. It uses a much more modest thermionic nuclear reactor and may have something to do with space-based electronic warfare. There does not seem to be a connection between the two projects.

Anyway, thanks for posting that link. The pictures are definitely interesting because even the 1-megawatt reactor has become shrouded in secrecy in recent years. I wonder where the they come from. No source is given by the person who posted them.
1. What will launch the thing ( Angara A5 ?) .

2.Also why they even develop this thing without specific mission for it  i.e a JIMO type mission  or a manned/cargo mars mission ( but 1 MWe would not be enough ) here is a recent NASA presentation on the subject  http://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Mason_8-19-20/ .

3. Do you have any information on the reactor itself ( like cooling system , mass , ALPHA and electric conversion system ) .
« Last Edit: 09/13/2020 02:40 pm by RON_P »

Offline Vacuum tube

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #32 on: 09/13/2020 04:04 pm »

1. What will launch the thing ( Angara A5 ?) .

2.Also why they even develop this thing without specific mission for it  i.e a JIMO type mission  or a manned/cargo mars mission ( but 1 MWe would not be enough ) here is a recent NASA presentation on the subject  http://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Mason_8-19-20/ .

3. Do you have any information on the reactor itself ( like cooling system , mass , ALPHA and electric conversion system ) .

well, there is no "hard" plans, but

1. something like A-5M with "emergency rescue system" for reactor

2. One of main mission for 1 MW version declared 20t "block" for orbital Moon base and 16t "block"+ landing system for Moon surface base,
also "space exploration missions" and "orbital tug" missions,
for Mars there is "plans" for 5 and 25 MW versions

3.reactor mass ~7t (or ~4,5t, really depend on what to count as reactor), turbine electric conversion system, Helium/Xenon cooling system up to 1500K in circuit,

keep in mind that all that is old info, so take it with grain of salt

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #33 on: 09/13/2020 05:55 pm »
The demonstrator reactor will 1 MW electric or thermal ?

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #34 on: 09/13/2020 09:02 pm »
Here are some excerpts from the article on Ekipazh that I wrote last year and which may answer some of the above questions. The article also discussed the unrelated 1 megawatt reactor.

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3809/1

Quote
Court documents also reveal that KB Arsenal signed a contract (called TEM-Arsenal) with the Khrunichev Center on July 1, 2015, for work on an orbital demonstrator identified as 327AN30-TEM-1 to be launched by the Angara-A5 rocket. According to the documentation, KB Arsenal initially studied a 140-kilowatt version of the demonstrator, but in May 2016 was ordered to upgrade this capacity to 500 kilowatts, one resulting problem being that it exceeded the launch capacity of the Angara-A5 by about 1.5 tons.[11] Roscosmos chief Dmitri Rogozin recently said that it has not yet been decided if it is necessary to build a 500-kilowatt interim version before moving on to the one-megwatt version.[12]

The one-megawatt TEM project appears to have been affected by the significant budget cuts that hit Russia’s Federal Space Program for 2016–2025, approved in March 2016. At that point, Roscosmos ordered a series of studies that would have resulted in the launch of a demonstrator satellite no sooner than 2025.[13] KB Arsenal was assigned to one of those studies (called “Yadro” or “Core”) in November 2017. This was aimed at defining possible missions for TEM by November 2018 and would have to result in determining technical specifications for actual flight vehicles (with a reactor capacity ranging from 100 kilowatts to one megawatt) to be developed under a follow-on effort called Nuklon.[14] An indication that the full-scale one-megawatt TEM may not fly for at least another decade came in a recently released Roscosmos tender, which calls for completing ground-based infrastructure for TEM at the Vostochny Cosmodrome no earlier than 2030, a staggering 20 years after the project was initiated.[15]

(after the discussion of a possible electronic warfare payload for Ekipazh)

Quote
Electronic warfare is also one of the missions studied by KB Arsenal for the one-megawatt TEM project under the previously mentioned Yadro research program in 2017–2018. As is known from the tender documentation released for Yadro, Roscosmos ordered participants in the tender to look at EW payloads capable of interfering with “control, intelligence, communications and navigation systems.” KB Arsenal proposed an EW payload with a maximum mass of five tons and a power source generating between 100 and 1,000 kilowatts. The dimensions of the EW antenna were given as 10 x 2.5 x 0.4 meters in “transport mode.” The only other missions in Roscosmos’ specifications for Yadro were remote sensing, directed energy transfer using lasers, communications, and interorbital transport of payloads.[33] The solar system missions widely advertised for the one-megawatt TEM in the early years of the project were notably absent from the objectives.

All this, along with the fact that the one-megawatt TEM project has become increasingly cloaked in secrecy in recent years, is a possible sign that it is being at least partially militarized. It is worth noting in this respect that training sessions on handling hazardous radioactive materials that were organized last year for both Roscosmos and KB Arsenal specialists were described as being related to the use of “nuclear energy for defense purposes.”[34]

The fact that the images posted on the NK forum were made in a section of the Army 2020 exhibition that was off limits to the general public would tend to confirm the latter speculation.

Offline Vacuum tube

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #35 on: 09/14/2020 01:51 am »
The demonstrator reactor will 1 MW electric or thermal ?

for 1MW reactor it is 1MW electric, 3,5MW thermal, at least in theory




The fact that the images posted on the NK forum were made in a section of the Army 2020 exhibition that was off limits to the general public would tend to confirm the latter speculation.


Oy vey, militarisation of 1MW TEM, who can even think about it:



it's not like "TEM-laser gun" theme was started by TEM "fathers" in hope to receive military funding, right? right?
and inclusion of Arsenal only worsening this

Offline Stimbergi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #36 on: 09/14/2020 06:18 pm »
Animated render about TEM starting from 3:18

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #37 on: 09/14/2020 09:31 pm »
Any information on the electric propulsion itself ?
1.Hall or Gridded ion thrusters , like the late NASA JIMO's NEXIS thrusters   ?

2.Mass and power ?

3. Manufacturer, OKB fakel or someone else ?
« Last Edit: 09/14/2020 09:31 pm by RON_P »

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #38 on: 09/14/2020 10:09 pm »
Appears to be identical in design to this project which we already have a thread: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48342.0

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #39 on: 09/14/2020 10:39 pm »
Cross-post:
There is a thread devoted to the 1 megawatt TEM here:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37957.0
Perhaps it's better to continue this discussion there.
Again, Ekipazh is a different project.

[zubenelgenubi: I split/merged these posts from here to there.]
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Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #40 on: 09/15/2020 03:11 pm »
Posted on the NK forum (this time without the clown Konanykhin )

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #41 on: 09/16/2020 10:00 pm »
https://tass.com/science/1201289

So a JIMO like mission for the first flight in 2030 ( or they are just bluffing ) ?
« Last Edit: 09/16/2020 10:01 pm by RON_P »

Offline edzieba

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #42 on: 09/17/2020 02:02 pm »
Don't get me wrong, it would be incredible if they can actually produce and launch it, but what would you even do with 1MWe on an outer planets probe?

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #43 on: 09/17/2020 03:05 pm »
Don't get me wrong, it would be incredible if they can actually produce and launch it, but what would you even do with 1MWe on an outer planets probe?

The power is mainly for the electric propulsion .
Probably no more than few 10's of KWe are available for the science payload and communication (which is still a LOT ) .
The proposed NUKLON is basically JIMO on steroids .

Offline RonM

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #44 on: 09/17/2020 03:16 pm »
Don't get me wrong, it would be incredible if they can actually produce and launch it, but what would you even do with 1MWe on an outer planets probe?

Use a "real" radar system like the surface-search radars you see on warships. Those are in the hundreds of kW range. Got to be interesting applications for that such as finding smaller moons, characterizing ring particles, etc.

The power is mainly for the electric propulsion .
Probably no more than few 10's of KWe are available for the science payload and communication (which is still a LOT ) .
The proposed NUKLON is basically JIMO on steroids .

Once the probe is in orbit that frees up a lot of power.

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #45 on: 09/17/2020 07:00 pm »
Don't get me wrong, it would be incredible if they can actually produce and launch it, but what would you even do with 1MWe on an outer planets probe?

Use a "real" radar system like the surface-search radars you see on warships. Those are in the hundreds of kW range. Got to be interesting applications for that such as finding smaller moons, characterizing ring particles, etc.

The power is mainly for the electric propulsion .
Probably no more than few 10's of KWe are available for the science payload and communication (which is still a LOT ) .
The proposed NUKLON is basically JIMO on steroids .

Once the probe is in orbit that frees up a lot of power.

As i said JIMO on steroids  :) ( JIMO 200-250 KWe vs NUKLON 1 MWe) .

Here are two recent NASA  studies on NEP systems (and space nuclear power/propulsion as a whole) .
http://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Mason_8-19-20/
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/calomino_nuclear_v5.pdf

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #46 on: 09/17/2020 07:53 pm »
TEM:
Russia reveals a formidable nuclear-powered space tug:

PERMALINK: http://russianspaceweb.com/tem.html
« Last Edit: 09/17/2020 08:00 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline Sciencefan

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #47 on: 09/17/2020 09:58 pm »
As i said JIMO on steroids  :) ( JIMO 200-250 KWe vs NUKLON 1 MWe) .

They can't use more than 200 KW with only four ion thrusters.

Offline tyrred

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #48 on: 09/18/2020 10:36 am »
A space tug implies it would push something. This looks like it would have to push something with the reactor end, as the ion thrusters are at the opposite end. Weird.

Offline Vacuum tube

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #49 on: 09/18/2020 12:41 pm »

They can't use more than 200 KW with only four ion thrusters.

but they can?


Offline Sciencefan

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #50 on: 09/18/2020 07:54 pm »
but they can

That makes sense. But still too crazy for something real.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #51 on: 09/18/2020 09:31 pm »
A space tug implies it would push something. This looks like it would have to push something with the reactor end, as the ion thrusters are at the opposite end. Weird.
The multi-axis gimballed Ion engines are used for orbit circularization burns, station keeping and fine thrust corrections and the Nuclear engine is for major burns and manuvers.

Offline Vacuum tube

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #52 on: 12/15/2020 08:44 pm »
about Russian space reactors:


Dragunov from 4:40:30
slides from 4:45:30

or pics from Shin on NK forum
https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?msg=2090617
 
P.S. Nuclear Rocket Engine, 50 kW electrical and 5-70 kN thrust for MEK, hmm that new

also OKR Nuklon papers finally arive:
two launch TEM + MPN
for Nuclon TEM  480 +/-20 kW electric
35t TEM + 20t block MPN (~10t fuel for "electric rocket engine" + 5500 kg science payload (incl. radar) + etc)
4800 h to Moon orbit from radiation safe 900 km i=51,7° orbit
TEM can give 450 kW to payload
Moon-Venus-Jupiter moons, etc.
https://zakupki.gov.ru/44fz/filestore/public/1.0/download/rgk2/file.html?uid=B61EEF97EAD58D2AE05324548D0A8A18

 10t fuel on MPN + ? amount on TEM, interesting how much dV
« Last Edit: 12/15/2020 09:06 pm by Vacuum tube »

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #53 on: 04/27/2021 08:55 pm »
At a meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences on April 21, Anatoliy Koroteyev, the director of the Keldysh Research Center, presented plans for a downsized version of the TEM nuclear reactor that can be launched by an Angara-A5 class launch vehicle in a relatively short period of time. This would be achieved by using a simplified heat dissipation system that “does not require the deployment of large structures”. Koroteyev showed slides of the newly proposed vehicle in its launch configuration (attachment 1) and orbital configuration (attachment 2).  The vehicle would have a capacity of 200 kW.

The biggest surprise were the mission objectives that Koroteyev announced for the vehicle:

1) to detect small-sized objects flying at low altitudes with the help of high-power radar systems. Koroteyev said such a system would be very important for “flight support”, but also for what he euphemistically described as “the detection of emergency situations involving undesirable flying objects”.  One slide (which was visible only a split second) showed the vehicle as the space-based component of an air defense system (see attachment 3).  Another slide showed the coverage area of a 50 kW system (about half of Russia’s territory) and a 200 kW system (the entire country) (attachment 4).

2) to ensure more efficient transportation “in near and distant space”, including the placement of heavy payloads into geostationary orbit at less cost than a heavy-lift launch vehicle. Koroteyev showed a slide comparing the launch mass of an HLLV with a cryogenic upper stage and an Angara-A5 with a TEM reactor and their payload capacity to low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit (attachment 5).

These goals have little in common with those announced last year for the Nuklon project, which was officially assigned by Roscosmos to KB Arsenal on December 20, 2020.  That contract called for producing a so-called “pre-draft design” for a 500 kW nuclear-powered vehicle that could reach lunar orbit using a dual-launch scheme, probably no sooner than the early 2030s.

The question is of those plans have now been changed or if the plans outlined by Koroteyev are no more than an alternative proposal by the Keldysh Center. With the assignment of the Nuklon project to KB Arsenal last December, the Keldysh Center seems to have been forced to relinquish its role as prime contractor for TEM, which it had fulfilled since the project’s start in 2010. It had been given new marching orders for the project in a Roscosmos contract awarded in June 2016. A considerable amount of work was done under that contract, but it was annulled in April 2019, the official reason being that ground-based infrastructure needed by the Keldysh Center to test hardware was not expected to become available anytime soon.     

KB Arsenal had already acted as a subcontractor to the Keldysh Center under the 2016 contract, but gradually moved to the foreground in the following years. In late 2017, it was assigned to a research project called Yadro (“Core”) that was described as a precursor to Nuklon, and then in December last year also got the Nuklon contract.

It should be noted that the specifications outlined by Roscosmos for Yadro in 2017 did not include any lunar or interplanetary objectives either. The tender documentation gave the following objectives: Earth remote sensing, electronic warfare, directed energy transfer using lasers, communications and interorbital transportation of cargo. However, none of these goals were included in the tender documentation for Nuklon, which focused on the lunar goal. Possibly, the Keldysh Center is now trying to regain control of the project by proposing a vehicle that could be built within a relatively short period of time and that, unlike the lunar TEM, could also enjoy considerable support from the Ministry of Defense thanks to its (at least partially) military objectives. However, that is just one possible interpretation of these latest developments.

KB Arsenal is simultaneously also working on another nuclear-powered spacecraft called Ekipazh (also designated 14F350). Unlike Nuklon (a Roscosmos project), this vehicle was ordered by the Ministry of Defense. This project began in August 2014, but its current status is unknown. To the best of my knowledge, the latest openly available official documentation related to the project appeared online early last year. With the Russians now clearly keeping a much closer eye on the release of sensitive information than they used to, it will be difficult to find out much more about it until it reaches orbit (if it ever does).

Koroteyev’s presentation is available on YouTube (see 4h50m-5h20m)



Offline Darkseraph

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #54 on: 04/29/2021 09:43 pm »
Hopefully these different plans for nuclear space propulsion go somewhere. Although they appear to be aimed at military uses right now, there is countless other ways to exploit capabilities like this. Russia's future contribution to space exploration and commerce need not be playing catch up with developments in China and the U.S but in offering technology with a Unique Value Proposition.

Nuclear power in space is something Russia has unique experience with and is not a technology a purely commercial entity is going to touch, but that a government could easily underwrite. There are also significant logistical challenges to Russia building larger rockets. For this reason, Yenisei is a giant kludge of other rockets stuck together just to match the capabilities of SLS and Long March 9. Developments in nuclear power and propulsion could enable Russia to achieve far more with smaller, more frequently launched rockets.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." R.P.Feynman

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #55 on: 04/30/2021 12:16 am »
Wait this is new so Nuklon was downsized from 1 MWe to 500 KWe ?

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #56 on: 04/30/2021 01:09 pm »
Wait this is new so Nuklon was downsized from 1 MWe to 500 KWe ?

Yes. There was talk of that well before Nuklon officially started in December last year.

Offline asmi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #57 on: 05/03/2021 01:32 pm »
I heard that first prototype will be 200 KWe. I also heard that metal is already being bent for it as we speak.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #58 on: 05/03/2021 03:47 pm »
I heard that first prototype will be 200 KWe. I also heard that metal is already being bent for it as we speak.

I presume the 200 kW version you're referring to is the one recently proposed by the Keldysh Center and discussed here in Reply 53. The claim that metal is being cut is probably based on the pictures that were leaked on the web last September. These showed elements of TEM under construction at KB Arsenal (see attachments 1-4). The question is if this is flight hardware or not. Some were convinced it was, others were just as convinced it wasn't.

I'm not sure if in the course of that discussion many people bothered to look at the official documentation on TEM that's available on Russia's government procurement website. My understanding is that all the hardware present at Arsenal at that time had been produced on the basis of a government contract signed between Roscosmos and the Keldysh Center on November 18, 2016. KB Arsenal acted as a subcontractor to the Keldysh Center under that contract.

If I interpret the documentation correctly (not a fact!), the 2016 contract did not call for manufacturing flight hardware, only mock-ups and elements of what was called a "working ground-based prototype". A document published in March 2020 (just months before the pictures were released) contains a list of hardware produced by Arsenal by that time under one of the points of the contract (see attachments 5 and 6). All you see there is the Russian word "maket", which means mock-up. KB Arsenal may also have been involved in other points of the contract, but most of these were related to testing of the ion engines, which is the responsibility of the Keldysh Center, not KB Arsenal. Therefore, based on the documentation, I would be inclined to think that what we're seeing in those pictures is not flight hardware, but I may well have overlooked something.   

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #59 on: 05/03/2021 04:25 pm »
My understanding is that all the hardware present at Arsenal at that time had been produced on the basis of a government contract signed between Roscosmos and the Keldysh Center on November 18, 2016. KB Arsenal acted as a subcontractor to the Keldysh Center under that contract.

Correction: the contract between Roscosmos and the Keldysh Center was signed on June 29, 2016. Subsequently, the Keldysh Center subcontracted work to KB Arsenal on November 18, 2016 under the name "TEM-Arsenal".

Offline asmi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #60 on: 05/05/2021 01:22 pm »
I presume the 200 kW version you're referring to is the one recently proposed by the Keldysh Center and discussed here in Reply 53.
No, I heard it from people who know the people who know the people... "in the know". Which is why don't treat as much more than a rumor. As you likely know, pretty much everything that touches nuclear tech is classified in Russia, or at the very least restricted as "DSP" (для служебного пользования, for internal use only). Which is why I can't identify my sources. But apparently the rationale for reduced power output is that they can't test the cooling system to make sure it's going to do it's job at full rated power because they can't simulate thermal environment of space on the ground with sufficient fidelity for satellite with reactor core. So basically their calculations say it should work, but they can't test, which is why they want to derate the core to add additional 2.5x safety margin, and see how things really work before going for a full rated power. As for the bent metal, I referred to the reactor core, not the satellite itself, but since it's the most critical component, I figured that other pieces must be under construction too.

Like I said, don't take this info very seriously, at least until you have independent confirmation from other sources.
« Last Edit: 05/05/2021 01:29 pm by asmi »

Offline JayDi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #61 on: 05/25/2021 04:09 am »
First mission of Russia’s nuclear-powered space tug to take 50 months and goes to Jupiter's satellites in 2030
https://tass.com/science/1292721

Quote
MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. The first mission of Russia’s nuclear-powered transport and energy module, Zeus, will last 50 months, Roscosmos Executive Director for Long-Term Programs and Science Alexander Bloshenko told reporters on Saturday.

"The combined duration of the mission is 50 months," he said during the New Knowledge forum.

He went on to say that the first flight has been scheduled for 2030.

"Together with the Russian Academy of Sciences, were are now making calculations about this flight’s ballistics and payload," he said.

According to Bloshenko, the space tug will first approach the Moon, where a spacecraft will separate from it. After that, it will head to Venus to perform a gravity assist maneuver and deliver another spacecraft. Then, it will depart towards Jupiter and one of its satellites.

Last December, Russia’s space corporation Roscosmos and design bureau Arsenal signed a contract for developing a preliminary project of a nuclear-powered space tug Nuklon, to be used in deep space missions. The contract signed on December 10 is estimated at more than 4.17 billion rubles. The delivery date is July 28, 2024.

Mission flight plan:
« Last Edit: 05/25/2021 04:28 am by JayDi »

Offline JayDi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #62 on: 05/25/2021 04:22 am »
From same presentation: Nuclear Orbital Station (Orbital Station with transport and energy module "Zeus").

Electric power: 470 kW
Dry mass: 20600 kg
Delivery by Angara A5V

Russian screen:



Offline JayDi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #63 on: 05/25/2021 04:36 am »
From same presentation: different engines for different missions (Earth, Moon, Mars, deep space, etc)

1. One magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
2. Few ion thrusters

Russian screen:


Original presentation about nuclear and other future technologies in the space:
« Last Edit: 05/25/2021 07:41 am by JayDi »

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #64 on: 05/25/2021 04:10 pm »
I am totally not an expert but half a MWe is not enough for a manned mission to mars . You would need a multi-MWe reactor for that .
http://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Mason_8-19-20/

Offline Asteroza

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #65 on: 05/25/2021 10:52 pm »
From same presentation: Nuclear Orbital Station (Orbital Station with transport and energy module "Zeus").

Electric power: 470 kW
Dry mass: 20600 kg
Delivery by Angara A5V

Russian screen:


Huh, Kliper is back then?

Offline TorenAltair

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #66 on: 05/26/2021 02:15 am »
Everything is always back in plans and presentations when needed but barely anything gets and got build the last 30 years.

Offline JayDi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #67 on: 05/26/2021 07:58 pm »
Transport and energy module under construction. Photos:

Offline JayDi

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #68 on: 06/05/2021 07:09 am »
Roscosmos calculations for Moon and other missions few years ago:

1. Nuclear and solar energy sources compare. See attached translated slide number 1 (modern nuclear source much more effectives compared to solar or USSR's reactors).

2. Nuclear energy sources for planet surface is much more effectives on 40-50+ kW tasks compared to solar sources. See attached translated slide number 2 (ground and underground nuclear reactors comparison to solar source).


Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #69 on: 07/06/2021 12:32 am »
Droplet radiator experiment later this year on ISS .
https://ria.ru/20210704/zevs-1739783833.html


Offline MarsFlyer

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #70 on: 07/09/2021 10:04 pm »
I don't see this posted.
RussianSpaceWeb.com has some updates here: http://russianspaceweb.com/tem.html#2021
I can't wait to see what this thing can do for outer system exploration.

Offline tequilashooter

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #71 on: 07/14/2021 04:10 pm »
maks airshow is not even present yet and I got these images few days ago.


Offline tequilashooter

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #72 on: 07/14/2021 04:11 pm »
got 2 more for attachments.

Offline edzieba

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #73 on: 07/15/2021 11:09 am »
got 2 more for attachments.
Hey, that's the Mars One 'base'!

Offline Yiosie

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #74 on: 08/25/2021 09:39 pm »
https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/1430590227719114759

Quote
...And the latest visuals of #Russia nuclear-electric space dreadnought emerge at a military trade show... but its mission described as delivering scientific instruments to the Moon and planets. MORE PICS, CONTEXT: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/tem.html#2021_07

Scaled model of the Zevs (Zeus) TEM vehicle was displayed at MAKS 2021, attached below.

Offline eeergo

Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #75 on: 10/25/2021 10:07 am »
Rogozin talking about 2030 for this again at the IAC today, touting test GSE as already built and ready to support testing.


Sorry for the blurry slide, but the interesting info is readable:
-DaviD-

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #76 on: 10/26/2021 05:48 am »
So looks like missions to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and "other bodies" are proposed.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline eeergo

Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #77 on: 10/26/2021 07:25 am »
So looks like missions to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and "other bodies" are proposed.

Actually the left planet is Venus, and I forgot to add he explicitly said "payloads can be dropped off along the way in any destination point". Venus was touted as useful for gravitational assists, as was the Moon. The idea was mainly to use Zeus for deep space missions.
« Last Edit: 10/26/2021 07:26 am by eeergo »
-DaviD-

Offline RON_P

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #78 on: 12/01/2022 04:56 pm »
Very interesting photo from NK forum ( upper left )
- Looks like part of the power conversion system from the TEM ground prototype ( or Zeus or whatever it is called now ) .
« Last Edit: 12/01/2022 04:56 pm by RON_P »

Offline owais.usmani

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #79 on: 04/27/2023 12:24 pm »
https://tass.ru/kosmos/17619395

Quote
Borisov said that Russia will use a nuclear tug in a joint project with China

MOSCOW, 26 April. /TASS/. The nuclear tug "Zeus" will be involved in a joint project with China of the international scientific lunar station. This was announced on Wednesday by Director General of Roscosmos Yuri Borisov at the educational marathon "Knowledge. First".

“We have a nuclear tug called Zeus. We are going to put it into practice by 2030. This is one of the products that will help in the expansion of the moon, we are going to use it in a joint project with China,” Borisov said.

According to the head of Roskosmos, the tug will allow large objects to be delivered from near-Earth to near-lunar orbit.

According to Borisov, China is interested in Russian rocket engines.

“We have an agreement with China on the creation of an international scientific lunar station, we are actively working. They are interested in our competencies in engines, they really want to get them and figure out how they are made in order to repeat them,” Borisov said.

According to the head of the state corporation, the Russian Federation has such relations with India, Roscosmos helps in organizing the first flight of a manned spacecraft into orbit.

At the end of 2022, Roscosmos announced the signing of a program for the development of cooperation in space activities for 2023-2027 with the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA). In addition, the governments of Russia and China signed a cooperation agreement on the creation of an international scientific lunar station, the roadmap of which was presented in June 2021. According to the information provided, the construction of the station should be fully completed by 2035.

The federal educational marathon "Knowledge. First" is held from 24 to 26 April at the Central Arena in Moscow, as well as at venues in Yekaterinburg, Arkhangelsk, Pyatigorsk and Lugansk.


Offline Eric Hedman

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #80 on: 04/27/2023 11:43 pm »
https://tass.ru/kosmos/17619395

Quote
[
“They are interested in our competencies in engines, they really want to get them and figure out how they are made in order to repeat them,” Borisov said.
China wants to appropriate Russia's intellectual property.  Imagine that.

Offline marcus79

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #81 on: 04/28/2023 10:52 am »
Was expecting this. China is working on a 1MW nuclear reactor for space purposes. This is one area where they can profit a lot from cooperating with Russia, speeding things up considerably.

For Russia, I guess this means Zevs can fly after all.

Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #82 on: 08/11/2023 03:13 pm »
Was expecting this. China is working on a 1MW nuclear reactor for space purposes. This is one area where they can profit a lot from cooperating with Russia, speeding things up considerably.

For Russia, I guess this means Zevs can fly after all.
There's a post on this forum containing a recent news item from April 2023 that mentions a NET 2030 launch window for the Zevs space tug:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=50028.msg2513503#msg2513503

Offline gosnold

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Re: Russian nuclear propulsion
« Reply #83 on: 03/14/2024 06:17 pm »
I have written an article on the russian space nuclear reactors:

https://satelliteobservation.net/2024/02/20/countering-constellations-the-russian-space-nuke-scare/

It is based a lot on Bart Hendrickx's Space Review article on Ekipazh, and the next article will adress how the power of a such a reactor can be used for jamming

Tags: zevs nuclear power tug 
 

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