Russian Deputy Prime Minister Warns U.S. Could Use Trampoline To Access ISS.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Warns U.S. Could Use Trampoline To Access ISS.

NBC Nightly News (4/29, story 6, 0:30, Williams) broadcast that with more U.S. sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine, Russia’s deputy prime minister said that the U.S. could “use a trampoline” if it wanted to get its astronauts to the ISS. According to the broadcast, this is a “dicey” situation because of the U.S. reliance on Russia for transport.

The Washington Post (4/29, Birnbaum) briefly noted Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin’s comments in an article primarily about how the sanctions do not seem to be working as Russian as officials say the U.S. and Europe are causing more damage to themselves.

Reuters (4/29, Baczynska) reported that despite the statement, analysts believe that Russia will not halt launches because it is extremely reliant on the millions the U.S. spends per launch. Sergei Oznobishchev, director at the Institute for Strategic Assessments, believes that Russia will lose out in the end because Russia also needs the West’s high-tech electronic components and is not prepared at this time to produce them.

WDRB-TV Louisville, KY (4/29) reported that Rogozin’s statement comes about a month after astronaut Reid Wiseman and cosmonaut Max Suraev said at a press conference that the astronauts still had good relations. The pair, along with German astronaut Alexander Gerst, are scheduled to launch to the ISS next month “if all goes well.”

Deutsche Welle (DEU) (4/30), not mentioning Rogozin’s comments, detailed how reliant both the U.S. and Europe are on Russia for launches.

Also covering the story are the Bloomberg News (4/29, Silva) “Political Capital” blog, AFP (4/29), Voice of Russia (4/30), Moscow Times (4/29, Bodner), NBC News (4/29, Boyle) website, and other media sources.

Defense Authorization Markup Requires Development Of RD-180 Alternative Engine. The Hill (4/29, Wong) reported that in the markup of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, the House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee calls on the government to work on developing an alternate engine for U.S. rockets over the next five years so that there is no more reliance on Russia. According to the legislation, “any company certified to launch a national security payload” would be able to bid on the contract.

Space News (4/29, Gruss, Subscription Publication) noted that in the bill, the Department of Defense would need to coordinate with NASA to make sure both agencies can use the alternate to the RD-180 engine.