An Atlas V rocket equpped with a Russian RD-180 engine launching NASA's Mars Curiosity rover in 2011. NASA / Wikicommons
New York Times: Pentagon Seeks Easing of Ban on Russian Rockets for U.S. Space Missions
WASHINGTON — After Russia annexed Crimea last year, Congress passed legislation that forced the Pentagon to stop buying Russian rocket engines that have been used since 2000 to help launch American military and intelligence satellites into space.
Now, that simple act of punishment is proving difficult to keep in place.
Only five months after the ban became law, the Pentagon is pressing Congress to ease it.
The Pentagon says that additional Russian engines will be needed for at least a few more years to ensure access to space for the country’s most delicate defense and intelligence technology.
The retreat has angered Russia’s fiercest critics in Congress, including Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and chairman of the Armed Services Committee. He said that NPO Energomash, the Russian company that makes the rockets and has close ties to President Vladimir V. Putin, stood to make $300 million from sales that would otherwise come to an end.
WNU Editor: The Pentagon is hoping that other suppliers will replace the Russian rockets .... U.S. Air Force Opens Bidding for Rockets to End Reliance on Russia (Moscow Times/Reuters) .... but it looks like it is not going to be that easy.
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