MEGAHIT: Megawatt Highly Efficient Technologies for Space Power and Propulsion Systems for Long-duration Exploration Missions - A Supporting Action for H2020 EC programme

Kurzfassung

A significant number of exploration missions require nuclear propulsion for which power sources are essential and enabling key assets. On the other hand, the development of the associated technologies would require an important financial effort and should therefore take place in the frame of an international collaboration, sharing the efforts as this has been the case for the International Space Station. MEGAHIT, funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, is a supporting action aiming at building a European roadmap for megawatt level nuclear electric propulsion in preparation of the Horizon 2020 programme. The approach of MEGAHIT is driven by the involvement of all interested European and Russian stakeholders – Research, Industry and Agencies - in the road-mapping. This approach will allow to build a scientific and technical community on the topic in Europe and Russia. Potential collaboration opportunities at international level with other space fairing nations will be analyzed.