Attempts to improve the performance of existing propulsion systems is futile, said Wednesday the head of Roscosmos Anatoly Perminov during the International Astronautical Congress 2010.
“No matter how many experts around the world on rocket engines did not work , maximum effect, which we will receive will be calculated by fractions of a percent. Of the existing rocket engines, whether liquid or solid, roughly speaking, “squeezed” all attempts to increase the thrust, the specific impulse is just hopeless,” said the head of the Federal space Agency.
At the same time, in his opinion, the nuclear power installation will provide a significant increase in these parameters.
“A nuclear power plant give the increase. On the example of a flight to Mars – now we have to fly 1.5 – 2 years there and back, and can fly for 2-4 months,” the statement said Perminov on the website of Roscosmos.
According to him, the alternative to such motor units may appear in the future. “Humanity, perhaps in the future will invent something new, but today we have science, on the Ground of such alternatives is not” – said the head of Roscosmos.
He added that the use of nuclear power plants is considered for large manned space systems, not for small SPACECRAFT that can fly on other types of plants using ion engines or solar wind energy.
The head of Roskosmos also said that currently in Russia working on the creation of heavy and superheavy carriers, the start of which is planned from the new Vostochny cosmodrome in the far East.
“In the creation and development of the cosmodrome in the far East envisages several stages. The first – the creation of rocket “Rus-M” to launch ordinary spacecraft of all types, cargo and possibly manned spacecraft. All this work must take place in the period from 2015 to 2020. I mean that this time will the real starts” – said Perminov. “20 years of must appear the PH 50-60-ton class and up to 2030 and beyond – heavy class, up to 150 t”.
On the question of whether new media initially practiced at Baikonur, the head of Roscosmos said that it is quite possible: “If necessary, why not?”
“Baikonur territory of Kazakhstan. Rent provided cosmodrome until 2050. I personally believe that Russia will continue to use the spaceport in varying degrees, to launches available PH: “Unions” of various modifications, “Zenith”, “Proton” – in this period (until 2050). I’m sure we will use these systems, and in parallel to build a new cosmodrome”, – said the head of Roscosmos.
