Roskosmos plans to launch the nuclear tug Zeus into space by 2030. The timing of the launch of a promising product during the 72nd International Astronautical Congress, which was held in Dubai, was named by the state corporation's CEO Dmitry Rogozin. The statement of the head of “Roscosmos” is quoted by “Russian space”.
“We plan to raise this device by 2030 – it is named after the ancient Greek god“ Zeus ”- to a safe altitude of at least 800 kilometers, turn it on and start the first expedition,” Rogozin said.
According to him, the electric power of the power plant of the tug will be 0.5 megawatts, which will make it possible to start towards Jupiter after the gravitational maneuvers near the Moon and Venus. “At the same time, the device is able to take such a payload that research probes will be launched from each of the celestial bodies,” the magazine writes.
In December, at the All-Russian forum of cosmonautics and aviation “CosmoStart 2021”, Roscosmos executive director for promising programs and science Alexander Bloshenko said that Zeus would be able to deliver tens of tons of payload to Jupiter's satellites.
In August, Rogozin announced breakthrough results for Roscosmos, which will be provided by the test of the drip cooler-emitter for Zeus on the ISS. In his opinion, the nuclear tug will make it possible to move large stations and orbital modules around the solar system and beyond.
