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Russia Develops Spaceship With Nuclear Engine

Posted by samzenpus on from the glowing-exhaust dept.

Matt_dk writes "The Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos has developed a design for a piloted spacecraft powered by a nuclear engine, the head of the agency said on Wednesday. 'The project is aimed at implementing large-scale space exploration programs,' Anatoly Perminov said at a meeting of the commission on the modernization of the Russian economy. He added 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."

13 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. The space race isn't over... by mpoulton · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...and if we're not careful, we'll lose. That still has consequences even with the real cold war over.

    --
    I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
    1. Re:The space race isn't over... by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And what happens if the nuclear part were to separate over the United States and accidentally detonate?

      The lead designer of the project will go on trial in Russia for hitting the wrong target - the "oops" was supposed to happen over China (which is much more of a real threat to Russia these days).

    2. Re:The space race isn't over... by dimeglio · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Dude, someone has to tell people out there that the entire freak'n universe is radio active.
      Each single day, more people are killed by automobiles than by falling radio active satellites. I don't see anyone banning cars.

      --
      Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the author.
    3. Re:The space race isn't over... by dakkon1024 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Really, you just used the term ****** rigged? What year is this again. Also we are taking about russia. I'm sure you mean russian rigged.

  2. They haven't "developed" anything by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They've drawn up a design.. wooo.. any nuclear engineer can do that - plenty of amateurs too.

    Building real hardware is the only way to develop launch technology. Tell me when they've gotten the funding to do some static firing.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:They haven't "developed" anything by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Insightful

      and by "dust it off" you mean embark on a multi-billion dollar technology maturation process right?

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_readiness_level

      you're talking about a TRL-4 engine as if it is almost TRL-7.. each step up the ladder takes funding.. that's why Apollo, and the Manhattan project were such amazing achievements, they went from concept to operational with dozens of different subsystems in an incredibly short period of time - by spending a massive amount of money.

      --
      How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. Sure Russia may not be able to afford it by voss · · Score: 4, Insightful

    but the chinese can.

    What the US needs to get back into the space race is a good old fashioned nose tweaking.

    1. Re:Sure Russia may not be able to afford it by demachina · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "What the US needs to get back into the space race is a good old fashioned nose tweaking."

      It doesn't seem to be working on the good ole economy front. China is running massive trade surpluses with the U.S., are taking all our jobs, and are seizing control of many of the world's raw materials. If there were any competitive fire left in America's belly it should have surfaced already. You can't really do another Apollo or compete in another space race when you are running trillion dollar trade and budget deficits, and mired in several pointless wars that are consuming what resources aren't going to health care and social security. During the 60's the US was still flush with economic success in the wake of World War II when the rest of the world had been flattened.

      The U.S. is starting to more closely resemble an early version of Great Britain, which having lost its empire in World War II and the pounds status as global reserve currency is now mired in debt and can't even support its vastly diminished military or pay its civil servants.

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      @de_machina
  4. uhh.. point of order! by nilbog · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would just like to point out that developing a spaceship (The title) is a lot different than designing a spaceship (TFA).

    Call me when the headline is true.

    --
    or else!
  5. interesting juxtaposition by Trepidity · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Subject/body of the comment:

    The space race isn't over... ...and if we're not careful, we'll lose. That still has consequences even with the real cold war over.

    Sig:

    When it comes to government, less is more.

    Is this a "libertarian except for a massive taxpayer-funded space program" sort of thing?

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    1. Re:interesting juxtaposition by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Funny, I see it as one of the best arguments for a decreased federal budget that I've ever seen.

      --
      Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
  6. Re:Isn't this dangerous? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    No, because the chance of you even breathing one atom of the fallout is so unlikely you are more likely to win the lottery.

  7. Re:IN SOVIET RUSSIA by Philip+K+Dickhead · · Score: 2, Insightful

    IT WAS ALWAYS FUNNY

    In a "Yakov Smirnov" kind of way. You know. Not at all.

    --
    "Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell