NASA announces it suspends cooperation with Russia

Source: ITAR-TASS

April 3, NASA announced that it suspended cooperation with Russia except within the International Space Station (ISS) program. The agency specified that such a decision was made in connection with Russia’s actions towards Ukraine.

According to a NASA’s memo, “ongoing violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” prompted the agency to halt contacts with Russia. The statement also said that NASA intended to complete own piloted spaceship project as soon as possible and to get rid of “dependence of Russia” in launching American astronauts to the ISS. The agency added that in case of relevant budget funding such a spaceship could be constructed in 2017. If the Congress does not allocate the necessary funds, the USA “would be further transferring millions of dollars to Russia”, NASA stated.