One of the most daring projects of recent years in the field of space technology is developing, and there are reasons for good news. Recently it became known about the completion of work on the project "Creation of a transport and energy module based on a nuclear power plant of a megawatt class". Now scientists have to carry out a number of subsequent works, and the end result will be the emergence of a full-fledged module suitable for use.
Work report
At the end of July, Roskosmos approved the 2018 report indicating the main areas of activity and the organization's successes. Among other things, the report mentions the project “Creation of a transport and energy module based on a nuclear power plant of a megawatt class”, developed within the framework of the State Program “Space activities of Russia for 2013-2020”.
According to the report, this project was completed last year. As part of this work, design documentation was prepared, individual products were manufactured and tested. While we are talking about the components of the future layout of the ground prototype of the transport and energy module (TEM).
The work on the creation of TEM does not stop there. All further activities will be carried out within the framework of the existing federal space program. Unfortunately, the Roscosmos report does not provide technical details of the TEM project in its current form, and also does not indicate the timing of the work. However, these data are known from other sources.
History of the issue
According to the Roscosmos report, work on TEM continues and should soon enter a new stage. This means that the plans to create a fundamentally new rocket and space technology, approved almost 10 years ago, will be fulfilled in the foreseeable future.
The idea of a transport and energy module based on a nuclear power plant (NPP) in its current form was proposed in 2009. The development of this product was to be carried out by the enterprises of Roscosmos and Rosatom. The leading role in the project is played by the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Keldysh Center.
In 2010, the project started, the first research and design work began. At that time, it was argued that the main components of the nuclear power plant and TEM would be ready by the end of the decade. The preliminary design of the TEM was prepared in 2013. In 2014, testing of the components of the nuclear power plant and the ID-500 ion engine began. In the future, there were numerous reports of various works and successes. Various elements of nuclear power plant and TEM were built and tested, as well as a search for areas of application of new technology was carried out.
As the TEM project was being developed, images showing the approximate appearance of this product were regularly published in open sources. The last time such materials appeared in November last year. It is curious that this version of the appearance was noticeably different from the previous ones, although it had some similarity in basic features.
Technical features
The transport and energy module is considered as a multi-purpose vehicle for working in space, both in Earth orbits and on other trajectories. With its help, in the future, it is planned to launch the payload into orbits or send to other celestial bodies. Also, TEM can be used for servicing spacecraft or in combating space debris.
TEM will receive sliding load-bearing trusses, due to which the necessary dimensions will be provided. On the farms, it is proposed to mount a power unit with a reactor installation, an instrumentation and assembly complex, docking facilities, solar panels, etc. In the tail section of the module, cruise and shunting electric rocket engines will be located. The payload will be transported using docking devices.
The main component of the TEM is the nuclear power plant of a megawatt class, which has been developed since 2009. The reactor of the installation should be distinguished by special resistance to temperature loads, which is associated with special modes of its operation. A helium-xenon mixture was selected as the coolant. The thermal power of the installation will reach 3.8 MW, and the electric power - 1 MW. To dump excess heat, it is proposed to use a drip radiator refrigerator.
Electricity from a nuclear installation must be fed to an electric rocket engine. A promising ion engine ID-500 is at the testing stage. With an efficiency of up to 75%, it should show a power of 35 kW and a thrust of up to 750 mN. During tests in 2017, the ID-500 product worked at the stand for 300 hours at a power of 35 kW.
According to the data of previous years, the TEM in the working position will have a length of more than 50-52 m with a diameter (for open trusses and elements on them) over 20 m. The mass is at least 20 tons. or several launch vehicles with subsequent assembly. Then the payload must dock with it. The design life, limited by the resource of the reactor, is 10 years.
Great prospects
The main feature of a TEM with a nuclear power plant, which fundamentally distinguishes it from other rocket and space technology, is the highest specific impulse. The use of a special power plant and an electric rocket engine makes it possible to obtain the required thrust parameters with a minimum consumption of nuclear fuel. Thus, TEM, in theory, is capable of solving problems that are inaccessible to traditional rocket systems fueled by chemical fuel.
Thanks to this, it becomes possible to more actively use the sustainer and shunting engines throughout the flight. In particular, this allows the use of more favorable flight paths to other celestial bodies. The 10-year service life allows TEM to be used multiple times in different missions, reducing the cost of organizing them. In general, the emergence of systems like TEM with a nuclear power plant will give cosmonautics new opportunities in all major spheres of activity.
Standard TEM engines must use only part of the electricity from generating systems. Accordingly, there remains a large margin of power suitable for use by the target equipment.
However, there are also significant disadvantages. First of all, this is the need to develop a whole range of new technologies and the overall complexity of the project. As a result, the creation of a TEM requires a lot of time and appropriate funding. Thus, the Roskosmos project has been developed for about 10 years, but the practical application of the finished TEM is still in the distant future. The total cost of the project is estimated at 17 billion rubles.
The use of a nuclear power plant leads to serious restrictions at various stages. For example, testing a finished nuclear power plant or TEM as a whole is possible only in orbits, which will minimize damage from possible emergency situations. The same applies to the operation of the finished transport and energy module.
Near future
According to the latest news, the development of the project "Creation of a transport and energy module based on a megawatt class nuclear power plant" has been successfully completed. Some mock-ups required for testing are already ready. In the coming years, enterprises from Roskosmos and Rosatom will have to carry out a number of important work with these and other products.
The flight prototype of the TEM is planned to be built in 2022-23. After that, various tests should start, which will take several years. The full launch of the TEM operation is expected in 2030.
At the end of June, it became known about the preparation of the site for the operation of the TEM. Such equipment will be launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome. Not so long ago, a competition was announced for the development and construction of a complex of means for the preparation of spacecraft and a transport and energy module. The design documentation for the technical complex should be developed in 2025-26. Construction is planned to start in 2027, and commissioning will take place in 2030. The contract value is RUB 13.2 billion.
Thus, various works on the topic of advanced rocket and space technology with nuclear power plants will continue throughout the next decade. Some organizations will have to complete the development and test the transport and energy module, while others will prepare the infrastructure for its operation. Based on the results of all these works, in 2030 the Russian space industry will have at its disposal a fundamentally new technology with broad capabilities. However, the complexity of all stages of a promising program may lead to a change in the schedule.
