Ripples From Crimea In Space: U.S. Seeks To End Reliance On Russian Engines For Satellite Launches (From Forbes)

Four decades after Americans last walked on the Moon, the U.S. has fallen far behind Russia in space-launch technology.  That became painfully clear when the Space Shuttle retired and U.S. astronauts had to start hitching rides to the International Space Station on Russian rockets, but long before that fateful day arrived the U.S. had already begun relying on Russian rocket engines to launch its national-security satellites into orbit.  In the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, that doesn’t just look embarrassing — it looks dangerous to national security.  So now Congress is debating how to cease using Russian launch vehicles in the U.S. space program.  The only real solution is to develop a modern rocket engine in America for use as the first-stage booster in a variety of launch vehicles.  I have written a commentary for Forbes here.