Vostochny Cosmodrome. September 4. INTERFAX-Roscosmos expects to complete the project of creating a nuclear interplanetary tug by 2030, the head of the state corporation Dmitry Rogozin told Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny cosmodrome.
"The transport and Energy module is our joint work with Rosatom. Space nuclear power is the only real opportunity to move around instead of chemical engines, like an interplanetary tug. By 2030, we will have created the entire infrastructure from here, we will bring it to a height of at least 800 km. This is the safest height for turning on a nuclear reactor, " Rogozin said.
Earlier it was reported that the complex was named "Zeus". In April, speaking at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rogozin said that the launch of the tugboat would be a "colossal breakthrough".
The development of a megawatt-class nuclear power plant started in 2010. It is planned to use it on an orbital tug designed to study the Moon and deep space. The development is being conducted by the Keldysh Center, initially the completion of the installation was planned for 2015, and the first flight of the tug was planned for 2018, but the deadlines were shifted several times.
During a visit to the Vostochny cosmodrome, the President of Russia was shown a mock-up of the Orel spacecraft. According to Rogozin, he should fly from Vostochny in 2023.
"Here is a model of the ship "Eagle", which is manufactured by the Energia Corporation. Four cosmonauts are a full-time crew. He has a resource of up to three flights to the moon. Why three flights to the moon and ten to near-Earth orbit. Because it will fly here from the Moon at the second space speed and there will be a load on the skin," the head of Roscosmos said.
"The ship is already in metal, it is undergoing static and dynamic tests. There are comments, there are first results. It will fly from here in 2023, "Rogozin said about the ship "Eagle".
Putin got acquainted with the development of the Vostochny infrastructure. He was informed about the progress of the construction of the launch complex for launch vehicles of the Angara family.
The construction of the Vostochny cosmodrome is being carried out in three stages. A launch pad for Soyuz rockets has already been built. Currently, facilities of the second stage are being built at Vostochny, designed to launch missiles of the Angara family. The first launch of Angara from the cosmodrome is scheduled for 2023.