Russian nuclear propulsion

[yoram]

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

[fregate]

I suspect that this project would not get funding in 2016-2025 Federal Space Program because Russian Space exploration strategy choose Moon first approach

[Steven Pietrobon]

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.

[savuporo]

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/

[fregate]

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

[savuporo]

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 ?

[baldusi]

May be the interagency project helps saving it? May be Rosatom is funding the bulk of the project?

Sent from my Classic using Tapatalk

[fregate]

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:

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).

[fregate]

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

[mfck]

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?

[fregate]

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"

[Steven Pietrobon]

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).

[ChrisWilson68]

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.

[fregate]

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.     

[fregate]

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.   

[gosnold]

What would be the delta-v of this stage with no payload?

[fregate]

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    

[ChrisWilson68]

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.

[fregate]

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.

[ChrisWilson68]

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.