The Russian government has assigned funds of 500 million roubles ($17 mln) for the development of a nuclear-powered spacecraft. Draft designs are expected to be finalised by 2012.
430 million roubles of the space nuke-engine funding has been assigned to the Rosatom state nuclear corporation, and the remaining 70 megaroubles to space agency Roscosmos, RIA Novosti says.
Roscosmos head Anatoly Perminov said in late December that Russia would launch research into nuclear engines for spaceships this year. He said nuclear engines for spaceships were a very promising area and should be created to make flights to Mars and other planets.
Perminov had previously said the development of Megawatt-class nuclear space power systems (MCNSPS) for manned spacecraft was crucial if Russia wanted to maintain a competitive edge in the space race, including the exploration of the Moon and Mars.
