A Russian research center has released more information on a powerful, reusable nuclear engine that’s been designed for an attempted mission to Mars.
In a video posted to social media, it’s claimed the rocket could reach Mars after seven months and also be re-launched into space 48 hours after landing. The institute responsible for the rocket, Keldysh Research Center, is famous for building the Katyusha rocket launched during World War II.
The nuclear engine, which is known by its abbreviation YaEDU (Nuclear Propulsion and Power Engine System) consists of a small fast-neutron nuclear reactor, an electricity generator fed by the reactor’s heat and space thrusters powered by the generator.
‘A mission to Mars is possible in the very near future, but that’s not an aim in itself. Our engines can be the foundation for a whole range of space missions that currently seem like science fiction,’ Vladimir Koshlakov, who heads Moscow’s Keldysh Research Center told Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Unlike chemical rocket engines, which burn through their propellant in mere minutes, the YaEDU will be able to work for tens of thousands of hours before the reactor core expires. That would allow accelerating a spacecraft to much greater speed over time. The system also acts as a reliable source of power for onboard electric systems as a side benefit. So this type of propulsion is much better than traditional rockets for long-range space missions, like exploration of Mars and beyond.
Apparently, scientists at the center have been working on this new propulsion system since 2009. It uses a gas-cooled fission reactor that powers a generator, which in turn feeds a plasma thruster to propel the rocket. And while the Russian scientists haven’t revealed a date when the new engines will actually be ready to use, they’re confident that they’ll put all other rocket technology to shame.
“Reusability is the priority,” said Koshlakov.
Various nuclear reactors were deployed in space by both the Soviets and NASA between the 1960s and the 1980s but, although Koshlakov has refused to name a date for when the new engines will be ready, he says they “will surpass the existing level of technological and scientific development.”
‘We must develop engines that do not need to be fine-tuned or repaired more than once every ten flights. Also, 48 hours after the rocket returns from space, it must be ready to go again. This is what the market demands.’ Currently, the most famous reusable rockets are the Falcon series developed by Elon Musk’s private space company, SpaceX. But according to Koshlakov, Musk is just using old technology. ‘Elon Musk is using the existing tech, developed a long time ago,’ said Koshlakov.
‘He is a businessman: he took a solution that was already there, and applied it successfully. Notably, he is also doing his work with help from the government.’ NASA currently has plans to launch the first manned mission to Mars sometime in the 2030s.
The Russian government allocated 500 million rubles ($16.7 million) in 2010 to start a project to build a spacecraft with a nuclear engine. The overall investment in the project is estimated at 17 billion rubles (over $580 million) until 2019.
According to Russia’s nuclear power agency Rosatom, the development and construction of a nuclear propulsion system for spacecraft will cost over 7.2 billion rubles ($247 mln).