Kurchatov Institute developed prototypes of engines for deep space flights

The National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" has developed prototypes of rocket engines for deep space flights. This was announced by the head of the center Mikhail Kovalchuk at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 23.

"Today we have prototypes of engines that provide a completely different thrust, completely different capabilities for deep space flight," he said.

According to Kovalchuk's assessment, in addition to the development of fundamentally new engines, further space exploration is also linked to the use of suitable materials. In this regard, the Kurchatov Institute currently has two main priorities - energy and materials science, the head of the center added.

At the same time, he agreed with Putin that the third priority is intellect and soul, which allowed domestic scientists to create nuclear power in the country and provide access to space.

«В течение ближайших семи лет у России будет самая мощная исследовательская инфраструктура в мире»

Президент НИЦ «Курчатовский институт» Михаил Ковальчук — о том, как наша страна отреагирует на прекращение научного сотрудничества с ЦЕРН

Earlier, on September 14, Academician Lev Zeleny, scientific director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the first stage of the Russian lunar program, said that Roscosmos supported the idea of creating two automatic stations Luna-27, although there is no final decision. According to the scientist, if there is one spacecraft, it would be logical to send it to the North Pole of the Moon, which is an understudied part of the satellite.