Russia building nuclear-powered space tug

Russia is reviving one of the Soviet-era space concepts – nuclear-powered space transportation – by building a space tug for a trip to the Moon, Venus and Jupiter.



The space tug is part of the Nuklon space complex, a scientist from Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos told TASS news agency.

The space tug is being assembled by KB Arsenal under the project name Transport and Energy Module (TEM.)

Alexander Bloshenko says the nuclear-powered space tug’s – propelled by electric engines – first flight will be a full-fledged scientific mission that will deliver a research satellite to the Moon and head for Venus.

It will then perform a gravity assist maneuver to head towards Jupiter.

For more information, hit the Source below

Source

Source