Russia’s proposed nuclear rocket

[Star One]

All I can say to this is hmmm!

Elon Musk and SpaceX won’t be leading the reusable rocket space race long, at least not if Russia has anything to say about it. Russia’s Keldysh Research Center has been working on a reusable rocket solution for nearly a decade now, and now it’s ramping up the hype with a new concept video showing how its spacecraft works.

Speaking with reporters, Vladimir Koshlakov explained that Elon Musk and SpaceX pose no real threat to the group’s plans. Musk, Koshlakov says, is relying on technology that will soon be antiquated, while Russia is looking towards shaping the future of spaceflight.

https://bgr.com/2018/11/14/russia-nuke-rocket-spacex-rocket/

[Kansan52]

I don't speak Russian. The story is a Nerva type transport back and forth to Mars with reusable rockets supplies and people?

Doesn't seem to be anything not already started in the 60's.

[Star One]

Here’s is fuller articles from RT and Pravda.

https://www.rt.com/news/443889-mars-nuclear-reusable-russian-rocket/

http://www.pravdareport.com/news/science/tech/13-11-2018/141982-interstellar_spaceship-0/

[Kansan52]

Thanks. Much better detail.

Two questions though. Can't it do better than 7 months to Mars? Can't they extend the crew system away from the reactor and not rely solely on shielding?

[Asteroza]

Pulling that image from Pravda, does anyone get the feeling somebody used the ISV spaceship design from the movie Avatar as a template without really realizing what they were fiddling with?

[MATTBLAK]

Russian space efforts and engineering has a lot of talent and potential. But they have poor leadership and no money. I'll be surprised and pleased if they ever get past launching only Soyuz crewed spacecraft for the next 10-20 years