Pentagon needs Russian rocket engines to guarantee access to space till alternative is found

[h=1]Pentagon needs Russian rocket engines to guarantee access to space till alternative is found[/h]Published time: November 20, 2014 02:59Get short URL

An Atlas V rocket (Reuters / Michael Brown)

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Air Force, SciTech, Security, Space, USA

​Until a viable alternative is available to bring “sensitive” US satellites into orbit, the US military does not envisage a speedy abandonment of the Russian RD-180 rocket engines as sought by politicians motivated by US national interests.
The United States military does not fully support the discussions in the US Congress and initiative by Senator John McCain to introduce the amended US fiscal bill which calls for the termination of acquisition of RD-180 engines from Russia, a Pentagon spokeswoman, Airforce Lieutenant General Ellen Pawlikowski said, according to TASS.
The Pentagon has “certain concerns” about the proposed timeframe to completely abandon Russian engines. At the same time, Pawlikowski said the Air Force is continuing to study alternative ways to deliver satellites to orbit to end US dependence on the RD-180 built by Russia's NPO Energomash.
The Russian-made RD-180 currently powers the Atlas V, but tension between Russia and the United States over the unrest in Ukraine has led to some concerns among US officials that Russia might eventually decide to curb deliveries of the RD-180.

Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski (image from https://afcea-la.org)

The spokeswoman also announced that she is“pretty optimistic” that Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will get certified to launch US military satellites.
READ MORE: Boeing, Lockheed teaming up with Amazon's Bezos to replace Russian rocket engine
The Atlas 5 and Delta 4, made by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a Boeing-Lockheed venture, are the only two rockets designated to launch US national security satellites. But Pawlikowski said the SpaceX with its Falcon 9 rocket is part of the larger evaluation under way.
In April, SpaceX filed a bid protest in the US Court of Federal Claims challenging the United Launch Alliance monopoly over launching national security satellites.
The outcome of the review will be made public when the Pentagon unveils its fiscal 2016 budget. The US Air Force is working closely with SpaceX to satisfy a number of requirements that would allow the company to potentially launch US intelligence satellites.
READ MORE: ISS-bound rocket explodes on takeoff from NASA facility in Virginia (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Russia meanwhile continues to deliver RD-180s to the US despite all concerns, with two engines arriving in August and three more due by the end of the year. ULA that is seeking a replacement engine for its Atlas 5 rockets has enough RD-180 engines to last two years. However the company's President Tory Bruno last week has announced that it “takes time” to develop an engine domestically that would fit US “national interests”, so the purchases of RD-180 will have to continue for another five to seven years.

Will those rockets bring back ESCROW FUNDS??!!

Exorcist said:

Will those rockets bring back ESCROW FUNDS??!!

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Hapo ndipo ninapobaki hoi kwa akili za wanachama wa chadema ( Chaga Development Manifesto), sijui kaka Exorcist ulifikiria nini kuweka hiyo comment, au ndio falsafa ya Babu Slaa kuwa kunyweni gongo na mhakikishe jamii forums nzima inakuwa na neno Escrow.

Danny greeny said:

Hapo ndipo ninapobaki hoi kwa akili za wanachama wa chadema ( Chaga Development Manifesto), sijui kaka Exorcist ulifikiria nini kuweka hiyo comment, au ndio falsafa ya Babu Slaa kuwa kunyweni gongo na mhakikishe jamii forums nzima inakuwa na neno Escrow.

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Sawa mimi sikatai.., lakini la msingi kabisa.., pesa za ESCROW ziko wapi..??!

Mkuu mbona ni kitu cha kawaida kununua rockets na hii ni kama unaona kuztengeneza unaona ni gharama,unatafuta alternative kununua nchi nyngne ambayo unaona wanauza kwa bei nafuu,ndio maana kuna biashara za kimataifa,hakuna nchi inayojitegemea kwa kila kitu,mbona Tanzania tunaagiza toothpaste China wakati tuna miti kibao

Guys,none of you knows deeper about how US intelligency is at work,huo ni ujanja wa CIA kuiba teknoloj ya Russia.

Guys,none of you knows deeper about how US intelligency is at work,huo ni ujanja wa CIA kuiba teknoloj ya Russia.

Montoya said:

Mkuu mbona ni kitu cha kawaida kununua rockets na hii ni kama unaona kuztengeneza unaona ni gharama,unatafuta alternative kununua nchi nyngne ambayo unaona wanauza kwa bei nafuu,ndio maana kuna biashara za kimataifa,hakuna nchi inayojitegemea kwa kila kitu,mbona Tanzania tunaagiza toothpaste China wakati tuna miti kibao

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Sasa toothpaste inahusiana nini na miti?

Jamaa yupo sawa. Hao Warusi hapo, wanashirikiana vizuri tu na USA. Hizo danganya toto, wadanganye wengine.

Sisi kwanza tudai fela zetu za escrow, mengine baadaye.

Hebu angalia control room ya Mrusi, pale kwenye screen kuna majina gani.

Montoya said:

Mkuu mbona ni kitu cha kawaida kununua rockets na hii ni kama unaona kuztengeneza unaona ni gharama,unatafuta alternative kununua nchi nyngne ambayo unaona wanauza kwa bei nafuu,ndio maana kuna biashara za kimataifa,hakuna nchi inayojitegemea kwa kila kitu,mbona Tanzania tunaagiza toothpaste China wakati tuna miti kibao

Click to expand...

Sikonge said:

Jamaa yupo sawa. Hao Warusi hapo, wanashirikiana vizuri tu na USA. Hizo danganya toto, wadanganye wengine.

Sisi kwanza tudai fela zetu za escrow, mengine baadaye.

Hebu angalia control room ya Mrusi, pale kwenye screen kuna majina gani.

Click to expand...

Fedha za ESCROW Mnadai Nyuma ya Keyboard with tens of ID's. Mtu mmoja unacomment na ID's mia kidogo ili muonekane mpo wengi, hizo sio harakati ni uoga.

Kila siku Mnacheza ngoma za CCM, kinachotakiwa sasahivi kuelekea uchaguzi inabidi neno CCM na baadhi ya majina ya viongozi wa CCM vitajwe kwa wingi ili wananchi wazoee, hizo ni mbinu za ccm, na kwa kujua kuwa Chadema mnaishi kwa matukio wamewapa hilo, Soon Wimbo utabadilika, save hii comment utaniambia, baada ya ESCROW chadema mtakuja na kelele zingine mtakazotungiwa na CCM.

ilianza epa, meremeta, kagoda e.t.c upepo ukapita na hili litapita kwa uzuzu wenu.