Use of Nuclear Energy in Space Systems

The history and trends of the future development of space nuclear energy are considered in this article, which is based on a report presented at the Scientific Session of the Russian Academy of Sciences of April 21, 2021. The functional diagram and the principle of operation of a powerful advanced nuclear power unit based on a gas-cooled reactor, a turbomachine power conversion system, and electric rocket engines are described. Rational options for creating an energy propulsion system are proposed with account for the limitations on the carrying capacity of existing launch vehicles, and promising directions for the use of powerful energy propulsion systems for interorbital transportation of spacecraft and powering energy-intensive payloads are considered.