Russia to start research into spacecraft nuclear engines in 2010

BAIKONUR SPACE CENTER. December 20. KAZINFORM Russia will launch research into nuclear engines for spaceships from 2010, the head of the Federal Space Agency said on Sunday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
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"Nuclear engines for spaceships are a very promising area. Such engines should be created to make flights to Mars and other planets, for example," Anatoly Perminov said.

Perminov earlier said 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.

Perminov said that the draft design of spacecraft powered by a nuclear engine would be finalized by 2012, and the financing for further development in the next nine years would require an investment of at least 17 billion rubles (over $580 million); Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.

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