Houston, we have a problem: Russia threatens to stop supplying engines crucial for US space program, by RT.

Moscow will retaliate over the latest sanctions proposed by Washington and one such response may be cutting off sales of rocket engines crucial for the US space program, said senior Russian lawmaker Sergey Ryabukhin.

Russia supplies RD-180 rocket engines used by NASA and the Pentagon since the US does not have a reliable domestic alternative. …

In 1997, Moscow and Washington sealed a deal on the supply of 101 units of RD-180 engines to the US. Two years ago, the US Congress banned using the Russian-produced engines after 2019. However, the ban was cancelled after lawmakers reportedly realized that the US space industry couldn’t find a replacement.

Shortly after that, the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint company owned by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, ordered 20 extra engines from Energomash. The engines are used to power Atlas V rockets. Earlier, reports emerged that ULA is likely to keep using Russian engines till 2028.

NASA can no longer do a moon landing, has no shuttle, and uses Russian engines in its rockets. But it has diversity and does Muslim outreach. Our glorious leaders, steeped in the ways of postmodern theory, are so wise.

hat-tip Stephen Neil