Waspie_Dwarf Posted March 15, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Hagel says crisis demands review of Russian engine Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday the crisis between Russia and Ukraine should prompt a review of the use of Russian engines on Atlas 5 rockets, which power the launches of multibillion-dollar U.S. government national security satellites."I think this is going to engage us in a review of that issue," Hagel told a House defense appropriations subcommittee Thursday. "I don't think there's any question about that." Operated by United Launch Alliance, a joint company owned by Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., the Atlas 5 rocket's first stage is fitted with a kerosene-fueled RD-180 engine designed and manufactured in Russia by engine-maker NPO Energomash. Read more... Edited March 15, 2014 by Waspie_Dwarf typo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted March 15, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 15, 2014 yes, because America can never miss an opportunity to stoke the fires of Cold War, can they, and a magnificent job they're doing of convincing the world that Putin won't be satisfied till he's got all of Europe under his heel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted March 15, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted March 15, 2014 yes, because America can never miss an opportunity to stoke the fires of Cold War, can they, and a magnificent job they're doing of convincing the world that Putin won't be satisfied till he's got all of Europe under his heel. And your comments are relevant to the Atlas V issue how exactly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightly Posted March 16, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Sounds like paranoia .. and or propaganda.. they go hand in hand. Thirdly, it could simply be economic/contractural considerations .. as in shift that contract to another competitor. (if there are any?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted March 16, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted March 16, 2014 (if there are any?) There's the problem, you can't simply switch rocket engines. The Atlas V is designed to use the Russian made RD-180 and no other. That means that US intelligence is largely dependent on a nation that they are having bad relations with and may be imposing sanctions on. Any retaliatory sanctions from the Russians could effectively ground the Atlas V. No paranoia or propaganda, just an inconvenient truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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