Manned flights to Mars may begin in the next 50 years. And in the 2030–2040s, Russia plans to use the Zeus nuclear tugs for the exploration of deep space and other scientific projects, said Yuri Borisov, Director General of Roscosmos.
Borisov noted that the creation of a prototype of the Russian nuclear tug is planned to be completed in 2030. According to him, the project is being developed on its own and is progressing very successfully: the necessary reactor characteristics have already been achieved.
Work on creating a prototype will not be stopped, and in the 2030–40s it will be used to explore outer space in distant frontiers. Borisov noted that Zeus will become the basis for future space exploration.
I think that we will not stop work in this direction, and somewhere in the 2030–40s the product will already be practically used for the exploration of deep space, for scientific programs.
Russia has been working on the creation of the Zeus nuclear tug since 2010. The Roscosmos State Corporation announced its intention to conduct the first flight tests in 2030.
The tug is a spacecraft equipped with a thermionic emission module that operates on the basis of a nuclear power plant.
The head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, previously noted that the Zeus nuclear tug being created in Russia will be able to reach medium space.
Zeus will be engaged in searching for life on Jupiter's satellites. With the help of radar equipment, it will explore the multi-kilometer ice shield of Europe, Ganymede and Callisto. And a payload consisting of spectrometers and gas analyzers will help to detect places that may be suitable for life.
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