Amid tensions between Ukraine and Russia that have now developed into a war situation, the US has now been dragged into the situation. In a recent development published by Space.com, the Putin-led state has gone ahead with its decision to end its decade-long relationship with the states on the space partnership. On Wednesday, March 2, Roscosmos announced that it would not go ahead with the launch unless OneWeb guaranteed that the satellites would not be used for military purposes. Read more to understand what happened that led to the demise of this long relationship.
Essentials:
- Thirty-six OneWeb broadband spacecraft set to launch on Friday (March 4)
- Roscosmos announced that it would not go ahead with the launch unless OneWeb guaranteed the satellites would not be used for military purposes.
- † Also jeopardized are the launches that mark cooperation between Russia and countries that oppose its activities in Ukraine.
Roscosmos chief Dimitry Rogozin announced Friday that his agency will no longer sell rocket engines to US companies.
Confirming the same, Dimitry stated, “Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks.”
The ban is unlikely to have any far-reaching consequences, and perhaps only significantly to Northrop Grumman, who uses Russian-made RD-181 engines in its Antares missile. RD-180s power the first stage of United Launch Alliance’s workhorse Atlas V launch vehicle, but the company says it has enough engines on hand to fly out all remaining Atlas V missions.
Biden tarnishes US sanctions on Russia’s space program
Notably, on February 4, US President Joe Biden announced that he will downgrade Russia’s space program under new US sanctions. This decision of the POTUS follows the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
In a speech, Biden said: “Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war, and now he and this country will suffer the consequences. Today I approve extra tough sanctions and new restrictions on what can be exported to Russia.”
Shortly afterwards, the Roscosmos chief took on the POTUS via his Twitter, rather in a menacing stance as he said, “Do you want to destroy our partnership on the ISS?”