Russia was and still is the leader in the field of nuclear space power.Experience in the design, construction, commissioning and operation of spacecraft equipped with nuclear power sources are organizations such as the RSC "Energy" and "Roskosmos".Nuclear engine allows to operate the aircraft for many years, repeatedly increasing their practical suitability.
historical chronicle
use of nuclear energy in space is no longer science fiction back in the 70s of the last century.The first nuclear engines in 1970-1988 were launched into space and successfully used on spacecraft (SC) observation of "US-A".They used a system with thermoelectric nuclear power plant (NPP) "Buk" electric power of 3 kW.
In 1987-1988 two devices "Plasma-A" with thermionic NPS "Topaz" 5 kW has been flight-testing space, during which the first was made the power electric propulsion (ERE) from the nuclear power source.
A complex of ground tests of nuclear power thermionic nuclear installation "Yenisei" 5 kW.Based on these technologies drafted thermionic NPS power of 25-100 kW.
MB "Hercules»
RSC "Energy" in the 70s started the scientific and practical researches, the purpose of which was to create a powerful nuclear space propulsion for orbital transfer tug (MB) "Hercules".The work led to the foundation for many years of the nuclear electric propulsion (YAERDU) with thermionic NPS power of several - hundred kilowatts and electric propulsion unit capacity of tens or hundreds of kilowatts.
design parameters MB "Hercules»:
- useful electrical power NPS - 550 kW;
- specific impulse electrojet propulsion systems - 30 km / s;
- thrust electrojet propulsion systems - 26 H;
- resource electrojet propulsion systems and NPS - 16,000 hours;
- working body electrojet propulsion systems - xenon;
- weight (dry) tug - 14,5-15,7 tons, including nuclear power units - 6.9 m.
Contemporary
In the XXI century it is time to create a new nuclear engine for space.In October 2009, at a meeting of the Presidential Commission for Modernization and Technological Development of Russia's Economy has been approved Russia's new project "Creation of transport and energy module using a nuclear power installation of megawatt-class."Head developer are:
- reactor plant - JSC "NIKIET".
- Nuclear power plant with gas turbine power conversion circuit, electrojet propulsion systems based on ion electric propulsion and YAERDU in general - SRC "Research Center.Keldysh ", which is also responsible for organizing the program of development of transport and energy module (TEM) as a whole.
- RSC "Energy" as the chief designer TEM should develop an automatic machine with this module.
Characteristics of the new installation
new nuclear engine for space Russia plans to start commercial operation in the next few years.Projected characteristics of the gas turbine YAERDU following.The reactor used gas-cooled fast reactor, the temperature of the working fluid (a mixture of He / Xe) before the turbine - 1500 K, the efficiency of conversion of heat into electrical energy - 35%, the type of cooler-radiator - drop.Weight unit (reactor, radiation protection and conversion system, but without the cooler-radiator) - 6 800 kg.
Space nuclear engines (NPU, NPI, together with EPS) plan to use:
- As part of future space vehicles.
- as a source of electricity for energy-intensive systems and spacecraft.
- To solve the first two problems in the transport and energy modules to ensure the delivery of heavy electrorocket spaceships and vehicles on the working orbit and further long-term energy supply of the equipment.
The principle of nuclear engine
based either on nuclear fusion or fission energy on the use of nuclear fuel for generating reactive thrust.There are installation of pulse-burst and fluid types.Explosive installation emits into space miniature atomic bomb that detonating a few meters away, the blast pushed the ship forward.In practice, such devices are not used.
Liquid propulsion engines, on the other hand, has long been developed and tested.Back in the 60s, Soviet specialists have designed a workable model RD-0410.Similar systems have been developed in the United States.Their principle is based on the heating of the liquid nuclear mini-reactor, it is converted into steam and forms a jet stream, which pushes the spacecraft.Although the device is called a liquid as the working fluid, typically using hydrogen.Another purpose of the nuclear space systems - powered electric onboard network (units) ships and satellites.
Heavy telecommunications global space communication devices
At the moment, work is underway on nuclear engines for space that will be used in heavy apparatus space communications.RSC "Energia" were carried out research and development project of the global space communication economically competitive with cheap cellular phone that was supposed to achieve the transfer of "telephone exchange" from the Earth into space.
preconditions for their creation are:
- almost complete filling of the geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites operating and passive;
- exhaustion of frequency resources;
- positive experience in the creation and use of information of commercial geostationary satellites "Yamal".
When creating platform "Yamal" new technical solutions was 95%, which enabled such devices to become competitive in the global market space.
anticipated replacement of modules with technological communication equipment approximately every seven years.This would create a system of 3-4 heavy multipurpose satellites in geostationary orbit with an increase in consumption of electric power.Originally designed the SC-based solar power 30-80 kW.In the next stage as the electric power source is planned to use nuclear engines 400 kW with up to one year in the transport mode (for the delivery of basic module GSO) and 150-180 kW in continuous operation (at least 10-15 years).
nuclear propulsion system antimeteoritnoy protect the Earth
Completed RSC "Energy" in the late 90's design studies have shown that in the creation of antimeteoritnoy Earth defense system from the nuclei of comets and asteroids nuclear power plant and YAERDU can be used to:
- establish a monitoring system of the trajectories of asteroids and comets that cross Earth's orbit.To do this, place the proposed special spacecraft, equipped with optical and radar equipment for detecting dangerous objects, calculating the parameters of their primary research trajectories and their characteristics.The system can be operated space nuclear engine with two-NPU thermionic capacity of 150 kW.Its resources must be at least 10 years.
- Tests of impact (explosion of a thermonuclear device) to the landfill safe asteroid.Power YAERDU to deliver the test device to the asteroid-polygon depends on the mass of the payload delivered (150-500 kW).
- dispatch staff the means (interceptor total weight of 15-50 tons) to approach the Earth dangerous objects.It will take a nuclear rocket engine capacity of 1-10 MW for delivery to the dangerous asteroids thermonuclear charge, the surface of which an explosion due to the jet material can deflect an asteroid from its dangerous path.
delivery equipment research into deep space
Delivery of scientific equipment to space objects (distant planets, periodic comets, asteroids) can be carried out with the use of space-based LRE stages.Use nuclear engines for space vehicles is expedient, when the task of reaching orbit satellite celestial body, direct contact with a celestial body, sampling materials, and other research requiring mass increase research complex, the inclusion of the landing and take-off stages.
engine parameters
nuclear engines for spaceships will expand the research complex "window start" (due to a controlled flow rate of the working fluid), which simplifies planning and reduces the cost of the project.Studies carried out by RSC "Energia", showed that YAERDU 150 kW with up to three years is a promising means of delivering space modules in the asteroid belt.
At the same time service research into orbit outer planets of the solar system requires an increase in resources, a nuclear installation, up to 5-7 years.It is proved that complex YAERDU capacity of about 1 MW as part of a research spacecraft will provide expedited shipping for 5-7 years to orbit satellites most distant planets, planetary rovers to the surface of these planets, natural satellites and ground shipping on Earth with comets, asteroids, and Mercurythe moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
Reusable lift (MB)
One of the most important ways to improve the efficiency of transport operations in space is reusable elements of the transport system.Nuclear engines for spaceships capacity of at least 500 kW allows you to create a reusable tow and thereby significantly improve the efficiency of multi-tier space transportation system.Especially useful for such a system in the program provide a large annual cargo traffic.An example would be a program of lunar exploration with the creation and maintenance of constantly increasing the habitable base and experimental technological and industrial complexes.
calculation of turnover
According to design studies RSC "Energia", the construction of the base on the moon should be delivered modules weighing about 10 tons to orbit the moon - up to 30 tons. The total cargo from Earth in the construction of a manned lunar base and visited the lunar orbital stationestimated at 700-800 tons, and an annual freight traffic for the operation and development of base - 400-500 m.
However, the principle of operation of nuclear engine freighter does not allow to disperse fast enough.Due to the long transport time and therefore considerable time finding the payload in Earth's radiation belts, not all goods can be delivered using tugs with a nuclear engine.Therefore, it flows which can be provided based on YAERDU estimated only 100-300 tons / year.
Economic efficiency as a criterion of economic efficiency inter-orbit transportation system it is advisable to use the value of the unit cost of transport per unit mass of the payload (GHG) emissions from the surface of the Earth on the target orbit.RSC "Energia" has been developed economic and mathematical model that takes into account the main components of the cost in the transport system:
- to create and orbit insertion modules tug;
- to purchase operating a nuclear installation;
- operating costs, as well as the costs of research and development and capital costs possible.
Cost indicators depend on the optimum parameters of MB.Using this model it was investigated by the comparative cost-effectiveness of the use of reusable tug based YAERDU capacity of about 1 MW and single tug on the basis of promising liquid rocket engines in a program to ensure the delivery of the Earth to the Moon's orbit altitude of 100 km total payload weight of 100 tons / year.If you use the same carrier rocket carrying capacity equal to lifting capacity "Proton-M" and dvuhpuskovoy circuits of the transport system of the unit cost of delivering a unit mass of the payload using a tug on the basis of the nuclear engine would be three times lower than using disposabletugs on the basis of liquid rocket engines with DM-3.
Conclusion
effective nuclear propulsion for space contributes to the solution of environmental problems of the Earth, human flight to Mars, creating a system of wireless transmission of energy in space, the implementation of security-enhanced burial in space highly dangerous radioactive waste ground of nuclear energy, the creation of a manned lunar base and topindustrial development of the moon, the protection of the Earth from asteroid and comet hazard.
