Russia to start research into spacecraft nuclear engines in 2010
19:11, 20 December 2009
BAIKONUR SPACE CENTER. December 20. KAZINFORM Russia will launch research into nuclear engines for spaceships from 2010, the head of the Federal Space Agency said on Sunday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
"Nuclear engines for spaceships are a very promising area. Such engines should be created to make flights to Mars and other planets, for example," Anatoly Perminov said.
Perminov earlier said that the development of Megawatt-class nuclear space power systems (MCNSPS) for manned spacecraft was crucial for Russia if the country wanted to maintain a competitive edge in the space race, including the exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Perminov said that the draft design of spacecraft powered by a nuclear engine would be finalized by 2012, and the financing for further development in the next nine years would require an investment of at least 17 billion rubles (over $580 million); Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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