A brief review is given of the 1952-1988 research at the A I Leipunsky Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (Obninsk) on the use of nuclear fission chain reactions in developing space vehicles and their on-board power systems. The research was carried out on the initiative of the USSR Academy of Sciences Corresponding Member D I Blokhintsev, Head of the Institute, and enlisted the active support of Academician S P Korolev.

PACS: 01.65.+g, 28.50.−k (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU2007v050n11ABEH006417 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2007/11/e/ 000253900700005 2-s2.0-40449139282 2007PhyU...50.1179S Citation: Stavissky Yu Ya "Nuclear energy for space missions" Phys. Usp. 50 1179–1187 (2007) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Стависский Ю Я «Ядерная энергия для космических полетов» УФН 177 1241–1249 (2007); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0177.200711f.1241