Ukrainian Rockets in the US

Ukraine is proposing its rocket industry help replace the current Russian-built RD-180 rockets being used by the US space industry (much to the chagrin of Senator John McCain).

According to a TASS news story, Lyubomyr Sabadosh, head of Ukraine's State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU), recently stated:

We have proposes using our capabilities for implementing a joint design solution for the production of a liquid propellant engine, which is currently purchased in the Russian Federation. Our partners have an understanding that it's quite a complicated task, but we can cope with it, and the discussion will take place at the level of professional experts."

While the US has plans to build its own rocket engine, a deal with Ukraine gives us more breathing room while also helping a partner in the region looking for some help. One can only hope US officials give this proposal serious consideration. 

Senator McCain is Upset About Russian Rocket Engines in the Budget

With the new Federal budget opening the door again to the previously banned Russian RD-180 rocket engine, Senator McCain, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, was not happy at all as expressed in his statement of the floor of the Senate:

This is outrageous. And it is shameful. And it is the height of hypocrisy, especially for my colleagues who claim to care about the plight of Ukraine and the need to punish Russia for its aggression. How can our government tell European governments that they need to hold the line on maintaining sanctions on Russia, which is far harder for them to do than us, when we are gutting our own policy in this way? How can we tell our French allies, in particular, that they should not sell Vladimir Putin amphibious assault ships, as we have, and then turn around and try to buy rocket engines from Putin’s cronies? Again, this is the height of hypocrisy. 

Excellent points, yet Senator Shelby from Alabama was not deterred by Senator McCain's remarks and defended his middle-of-the-night manuever:

I’m the first one to argue that we should not be dependent upon any foreign power for access to space — especially in the national security arena. I have already worked to secure more than $300 million in funding for the development of an American-made rocket engine. However, recklessly restricting the use of the RD-180 in the near-term will undermine both national security and the prospects for real competition in the military launch business.

I expect the United Launch Alliance believes Senator Shelby has been good this year and will properly reward him with a little something extra in his Christmas stocking. 

Good News for U.S. Rocket Makers

With the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, it was only a matter of time before Congress finally understood that our continued reliance of Russia for many parts of our space program, including Rocket parts, was untenable.  According to Space News, the Hill is close to an agreement on banning Russian rocket engines:

U.S. lawmakers have finalized legislation that will prohibit the future use of a Russian-built rocket engine that is routinely used to launch U.S. national security satellites. 

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015, recently finalized by House and Senate negotiators, also requires the Defense Department to replace the Russian engine, dubbed RD-180, with an American-made propulsion system by 2019.

This could be great news for SpaceX, or it could mean another large government-funded project to build a new rocket engine.  I prefer we use the private-sector talents we have at the moment to keep things moving. The Pentagon appears to agree.  In a letter to Congress, the Department of Defense stated:

The Department firmly believes that it should not allocate resources to develop yet another engine that would fail to be integrated into a viable launcher, especially when it can meet the assured access to space requirement with existing privately funded vehicle families.

I am glad the Congress is moving in this direction. It may be disruptive for a period, but the Department of Defense still has a few years worth of Russian rockets in storage to provide it with some breathing space.