They want to supply the Russian nuclear tug Zeus with weapons that will allow it to destroy satellites. Earlier it was reported that the tug is planned to be used to search for extraterrestrial life.
The appointment of the nuclear tug "Zeus" with reference to the materials of the Arsenal Design Bureau was reported by RIA Novosti. The design bureau carried out research work aimed at understanding whether the device will be able to "influence the radio-electronic means of control, intelligence, communication and navigation systems with the help of electromagnetic radiation."
Before that, it became known that Zeus is going to be used as an element of an air defense system: it is assumed that it will be able to highlight air targets from orbit.
They also want to use the nuclear tug to solve peaceful tasks. In particular, it will provide communication, broadcasting and retransmission, interorbital cargo transportation, delivery of equipment to the moon. Earlier, the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, said that Zeus will search for signs of extraterrestrial life.
Nuclear Tug
Image source: RIA Novosti
"Zeus" is the name of the tug itself, research and development work was assigned the designation "Nucleon".
They started creating elements of a tugboat based on a transport and energy module with a megawatt-class nuclear power plant in 2010. A few years ago, a mock-up of the device was shown at MAX, and within the framework of the Army-2020 forum, an animation of its operation in space was presented.
Mock-up of a nuclear tug
Image source: Vesti
The development of the preliminary project should be completed by July 2024. This will cost about 4.2 billion rubles. If nothing fundamentally changes, a test space launch of the tugboat will be carried out around 2030. In case of successful tests, mass production and commercial operation of the complex will begin.
Another important direction of the Russian space industry in recent years has been the creation of a new reusable rocket: this is a kind of response to the success of the Falcon 9 carrier, created by the American SpaceX. As it became known recently, Technodinamika Holding will work on creating a parachute system for the first stages of promising reusable carriers.
It is also known that to test the technologies for the return of the first stage, Russia will create a "Wing-SV" - a light reusable winged stage. It is possible that she will receive skis that can be used for landing on the ground.
In the ideological sense, the product will be the successor of the Baikal-a reusable accelerator for the first stage of the Angara rockets. This project was never implemented in practice.
