Russia planning to build new spaceship with nuclear engine

The Chief of the Russian Federal Space Agency announced his agency's plans to build a manned spacecraft with a nuclear power source.

A meeting of the Commission for Modernisation and Technological Development of Russia`s Economy was held in Russia yesterday. The meeting focused on communications and space technologies. According to Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency), Anatoly Perminov, Chief of the agency, revealed plans to create preliminary designs for a new spaceship that would be powered with a nuclear engine. Anatoly Perminov, who was appointed Head of the Federal Space Agency in March of 2004 and is a former rocket engine mechanical engineer, stated "the implementation of this project will allow us to reach a new technological level surpassing foreign developments." Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged the commission to seriously consider funding the program and providing all the necessary assistance. He stated, "it's a very serious project.....we need to find the money." A detailed proposal was not presented to the committee, and very few project details we're given. Currently, spacecrafts are powered with chemically-fueled rockets that propel the craft into space. Some spacecrafts utilize solar panels for missions that require shorter journeys. The new technology mentioned by Perminov would utilize Megawatt-class nuclear power systems, or MCNSPS. According to a study conducted by NASA, this would require "an appropriate nuclear reactor heat source." Perminov, addressing the Commission, stated that preliminary designs could be finished by 2012, adding that the spacecraft will be a "unique breakthrough project." Russian space officials have been hinting for sometime about planning manned missions to Mars. However, official plans and time-frames have not been disclosed. If Roscosmos is successful in creating preliminary design plans by 2012 and then creating a working nuclear powered spacecraft, it would mean a significant international scientific breakthrough. With current technology, a mission to Mars would take at least 12 months; six months there and six months for the return journey.