Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos and NASA will discuss the development of a nuclear-powered spaceship on April 15, agency director Anatoly Perminov said on Monday.

Not only the United States, but also "countries with a high level of reactor manufacturing technology" are to take part in the project, he said.

China, France, Germany and Japan also have the technology to produce nuclear reactors.

A nuclear engine design is to be completed by 2012, while the project's implementation will require 17 billion rubles ($600 million).

Most of the funding will come from Russian state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom, Perminov said.

He said last year, nuclear engines for spaceships were a very promising area and should be created to make flights to Mars and other planets.

BAIKONUR SPACE CENTER (Kazakhstan), April 4 (RIA Novosti)