Posted on 03/05/2014 9:49:05 PM PST by BenLurkin
Virtually every aspect of the manned and unmanned US space program – including NASA, other government agencies, private aerospace company’s and crucially important US national security payloads – are highly dependent on Russian & Ukrainian rocketry and are therefore potentially at risk amidst the current Crimea crisis as tensions flared up dangerously in recent days between Ukraine and Russia with global repercussions.
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The Crimean confrontation and all the threats and counter threats of armed conflicts and economic sanctions shines a spotlight on US vulnerabilities regarding space exploration, private industry and US national security programs, missions, satellites and rockets.
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Many Americans are likely unaware of the extent to which the US, Russian and Ukrainian space programs, assets and booster rockets are inextricably intertwined and interdependent.
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The Atlas V rocket developed by United Launch Alliance is the current workhorse of the US expendable rocket fleet.
Coincidentally the next Atlas V due to blastoff on March 25 will carry a top secret spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
The first stage is powered by the Russian built and supplied RD-180 engine.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
Shouldn't be problem. Just take one apart and make copies of it.
Ping.
The US is dragging along too many sloths to fund an independent program.
You are assuming that we still have the capacity to do such a thing.
Further, you assume that the Usurper's EPA would allow its manufacture.
Finally, there is no evidence that The Usurper wants the US to engage in anything that enhances independence, National Security or prosperity.
If we spend what resources we have on worthwhile projects such as these, there won't be enough EBT money for the baggy saggy pants crowd to get their Doritos and Purple Drank.
Wonder if our 2 astronauts in ISS still have a ride home, or to the Gulag...
We should have kept the old, but extremely reliable, Saturn V in production.
Yes, Obama and his fool who runs NASA (into the ground), have made sure that the US is losing its space program’s superiority.
As Obama would say, “I like it when a plan comes together, comrades”.
NASA’s budget with Pres. Bush was ONLY 20 Billion.
Any random banker gets 1 trillion now.
Under the undocumented Tryant, NASA’s sole purpose was
to help Islam and put them in orbit to murder more.
Too late, now.
For the First Moslem by Fraud? “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”
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