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Russia Boasts Unique Space Nuclear Capabilities
22 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Russia retains all competencies for developing space nuclear power plants.
- The Kurchatov Institute created the world's first experimental space reactor in 1964.
- No other country possesses comparable experience in space nuclear technology.
Russia maintains its advanced capabilities and extensive experience in developing space nuclear power plants, according to Mikhail Kovalchuk of the Kurchatov Institute. The institute's groundbreaking work dates back to 1964 when it successfully developed the Romashka experimental space reactor, which operated for thousands of hours.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet Union operated numerous spacecraft equipped with nuclear reactors, including 32 Kosmos satellites with Buk thermoelectric reactors and two with Topaz systems. These missions achieved remarkable success, with some satellites orbiting Earth for nearly two decades.
While other countries, including the United States, explored similar technologies in the 1960s, they later focused on solar power. Consequently, Russia stands alone in possessing direct analogues to its Buk and Topaz systems, preserving a unique scientific and technical legacy.
