NASA has suspended relations with the Russian space agency but leaves the ISS out of the equation.
Yet how can the ISS not be affected by increase tensions between Russia and NASA. It reflects the seriousness of the countries anger between each other over the Ukraine situation. NASA is at its weakest point since it has no way to transport astronauts up to the ISS without the aid of the Russians.
I don’t know if people realize that the ISS is worth a trillion dollars and really priceless. The Russians are the ONLY ones who can send astronauts up to fly it. I imagine the Russians have upped the price of a seat on the rockets now since economic sanctions have taken hold.
Congress and military have let America fall behind in the space race and there is no other way to put it. We retired the Space Shuttle with no other delivery system. WHY? It now becomes evident that OUTSOURCING rocket technology and manufacturing is not a good idea. Outsourcing manufacturing crucial to the defense of the nation is NOT and option. Why? It’s a problem when you go to war with the country your outsourcing jobs and technology too. It’s the same with computers and programs. Any technology for defense of the country should be created and manufactured in that country.
Greed has a way of making a country vulnerable. We thought we would use the cheaper Russian ride up to space. It looks like a bad choice now. We have now limited rocket parts and engines which will last us two years but our rocket program will not be up to snuff till 5 years. Russia will have the upper hand for three years and if you don’t think Russia knows this then you would be very naïve.
Putin appears to have the upper hand and I can only hope that we have a secret program in the wings.
Somehow, I find that hard to believe but we can only hope. I want to prepare UFO digest readers with the reality that the only ones up on the ISS in the future may be Russian and their friends.
We are in some serious times and our leaders have failed us.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5574896/nasa-suspends-contracts-with-russia
The movie 2010 could be prophetic.The Russian crew and Americans watch Earth's countries start WWIII. I hope it doesn't come to that.