Russia to develop manned nuclear powered spacecraft

William Atkins
Friday, 30 October 2009 20:02

Science - Space

If the Russian Federal Space Agency has its way, Russian cosmonauts will fly a nuclear-powered spacecraft on a space mission, possibly to the planet Mars, sometime after 2021.


According to the article “Russia develops design for spaceship with nuclear engine” by the Russian news agency RiaNovosti, Anatoly Perminov, the head of Roscosmos (the Russian Federal Space Agency), announced that the space agency plans to develop a design for a nuclear-powered spacecraft by the year 2012.

Then, the design would be turned into a nuclear powered spacecraft that would take Russian cosmonauts on a manned mission, possibly Mars, no earlier than 2021.

The announcement by Perminov states that the “Megawatt-class nuclear space power systems (MCNSPS)” spacecraft would cost approximately 17 billion rubles, or over $580 million (U.S.), to build.

Perminov stated, “The project is aimed at implementing large-scale space exploration programs, including a manned mission to Mars, interplanetary travel, the creation and operation of planetary outposts."

The RiaNovosti press releas also stated that “President Dmitry Medvedev backed the project, and urged the government to find the funds.”

And, “If the project goes ahead, it would be a huge boost for the Russian space program. Russia is currently using 40 year old Soyuz booster rockets, and plans for a replacement are well behind schedule.”

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