The module was started: Russian scientists will supply energy to the Moon and interplanetary ships

A nuclear power plant on the moon will operate on the principle of direct energy conversion. The power module will be delivered to the satellite and put into operation in 2036. In the future, the station will be included in a closed life support cycle. Nuclear engines of spacecraft will be unpretentious to the type of working fluid, which will allow them not to depend on resources from Earth and increase the flight range. Scientists from the Kurchatov Institute told about this at the Russian Space Forum. The forum also reported on the launch dates of the Amur-LNG with a returnable stage and the Launch-1M light-class rocket.

How to provide nuclear energy to the Moon

The lunar nuclear power plant will operate on the principle of direct conversion of energy into electricity. The module should generate 5 kW and work for five years. After this period, it will be replaced with a new one. This was stated by Alexander Blagov, Vice President of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center, at the Russian Space Forum, the main business event of Space Week. The event was held on April 9 at the National Center "Russia".

According to the scientist, the size of the installation will be approximately 3.5 x 3.5 m, and the weight will be about 1.5 tons. By 2032, specialists should complete the development of a prototype and a head sample necessary for ground tests.

At the same time, scientists from the Kurchatov Institute Research Center, together with employees of Roscosmos and other enterprises, will develop a program for delivering the module to the Moon, placing it and launching it. The installation is scheduled to be put into operation in 2036.

— Space, especially distant space, will be mastered by the one who provides himself with the necessary amount of energy, and our main task is to get rid of the Earth. Now we are completely dependent on it for resources and energy, but if we solve this problem, we will be able to form new alien bases, including a lunar outpost, and explore deep space," said Alexander Blagov.

One kilogram of uranium is equivalent to 20,000 tons of coal, he explained. With the help of this substance, it is possible to provide energy to the technical infrastructure on the satellite for years.

How will spaceships become independent from Earth

— As for engines for future spacecraft, their working fluid — for example, hydrogen — will be heated by nuclear reactors, expand and, entering the nozzle, create enormous pressure and jet stream. In terms of thrust, such engines are comparable to liquid engines, but in terms of specific impulse, nuclear engines are much superior to chemical engines. According to calculations, their flight to Pluto will take two to four months," said Alexander Blagov.

A nuclear rocket engine is not critical to the working fluid — it needs something that can be heated and that will increase in volume. For these purposes, you can use water extracted from the Moon or other objects in the Solar system. In this way, spaceships will become autonomous and independent of resources from Earth.

The scientists also discussed important issues during the session "Biomedical support for flights beyond low Earth orbit." During the discussion, the experts, in particular, touched upon the topic of creating closed-loop life support systems.

— The country that will be the first to create an energy source there will begin the exploration of the moon. At the same time, it is important that every watt of energy generated is used as efficiently as possible," explained Yulia Dyakova, Director of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center.

The scientist added that all factors should be taken into account in a single complex of lunar energy supply. This includes systems for heat removal and transmission of electricity, as well as the efficiency of consumption and all stages of energy conversion. Ideally, all the generated energy should be fully returned to the closed cycle.

When will the Russian rocket with a returnable stage be launched

— The priorities of the Russian space industry are to increase the efficiency of enterprises and reduce the cost of launching payloads into space. This is achieved through the consolidation of industries, digital transformation, the introduction of new technologies and the replication of effective solutions," First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said at the forum's plenary session.

He said that in 2025, technical specifications were approved for the Amur-LNG medium-class rocket and for the prototype of the returned first stage. The launch and landing of the experimental sample should take place in 2028. And in 2027, the first launch of the Start-1M rocket, which is being created on the basis of the Topol-M combat missile, will be carried out.

A key milestone for our country will be the deployment of a new Russian space station, which will begin in 2028.

Denis Manturov also stressed Russia's commitment to expanding international cooperation. In particular, the network of ground stations of the Russian GLONASS system in friendly countries is expanding in the territory. They are working with a number of states to train national cosmonauts for space flights, as well as to create communication and remote sensing spacecraft.

One of the central discussion platforms of the forum was the session "Private Space: Investments and growth models for a new ecosystem". Its participants focused on solving the problems of how to build an effective model of interaction between the state and the private sector in conditions of high cost of capital investments and a long cycle of return on investment in space projects.

"Historically, state participation in the space sector in Russia has been majority—owned, but the situation has been changing recently," Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Bakanov said in his speech.

According to him, today there is a significant influx of private investment in the industry, which contributes to the development of a number of areas. In particular, we are talking about the broadband Internet access market. The first 16 low-orbit satellites of the Rassvet communications group have recently been launched in this area. In addition, private satellite groups Citro-AIS and Zorky are already operating in orbit.

Dmitry Bakanov recalled that Russia is developing a GLONASS navigation system consisting of 24 devices. When all of them are fully upgraded, the positioning accuracy will increase to 2 m.

"The government's efforts to support private players are aimed at creating mechanisms that will help make these projects successful," said Viktor Shpak, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

These measures include the development of the space services market, the removal of bureaucratic barriers and the unification of technologies, he said. In addition, the Government supports the transition from obtaining raw data from orbital observations to providing ready-made services.