Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Russia Cuts Off Rockets, Threatens ISS Due To Ukraine

In a move which looks to bolster technology mogul Elon Musk's efforts to help ferry astronauts--and military cargo--to space for the United States, Russia has banned the use of Russian-made rocket engines for launching military satellites, and has threatened cutting off access to the International Space Station, in retaliation for a plan in Washington to deny export licenses for items which could help the Russian military. Russian deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, said that Russia will deny use of the International Space Station beyond 2020, and may even use the space station without he cooperation of the United States. Musk and Hawthorne-based SpaceX has been arguing since March that the U.S. should be using the company's Falcon rocket, as well as other alternatives, to launch payloads into space, rather than relying on Russian-made launch engines--saying that Russia could cut off the supply of those rockets at any time.

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