Russia are committed to the ISS until 2020 and have said they will honor that commitment. What happens after that is another matter. They have suggested they might pull out in 2020. But expect that by 2020 the Ukraine crisis will be history, resolved one way or another, so probably depends on what happens next rather than what is happening right now.
The scientists want to continue with the co-operation at least.
And the US is also currently dependent on Russian technology in the form of the RD-180s engines that power the Atlas V, to launch its satellites (including its satellites to spy on Russia, ironically), and not certain that SpaceX will fill that gap.
It's not an imminent crisis as they have a stockpile of the engines for some time. They have 16 on US soil: Boeing: No New Russian RD-180 Engines Needed For ULA Bulk Buy Deal
That's enough for two years supply.
Pentagon confirms study into reliance on RD-180 engine underway
The US could produce the rockets themselves, but it would cost them an estimated $1 billion and take five years to set up production according to Aviation weekly.
U.S. RD-180 Coproduction Would Cost $1 Billion
And it's not at all certain that SpaceX or anything else could fill the gap in a 2 years timescale from now.
More on this:
A looming crisis in space?
But the Ukraine crisis doesn't have to impact on space.
Space Cooperation With U.S. Not Affected by Ukraine, Russian Official Says | Business
The scientists want to continue with the co-operation at least.
And the US is also currently dependent on Russian technology in the form of the RD-180s engines that power the Atlas V, to launch its satellites (including its satellites to spy on Russia, ironically), and not certain that SpaceX will fill that gap.
It's not an imminent crisis as they have a stockpile of the engines for some time. They have 16 on US soil: Boeing: No New Russian RD-180 Engines Needed For ULA Bulk Buy Deal
That's enough for two years supply.
Pentagon confirms study into reliance on RD-180 engine underway
The US could produce the rockets themselves, but it would cost them an estimated $1 billion and take five years to set up production according to Aviation weekly.
U.S. RD-180 Coproduction Would Cost $1 Billion
And it's not at all certain that SpaceX or anything else could fill the gap in a 2 years timescale from now.
A looming crisis in space?
But the Ukraine crisis doesn't have to impact on space.
Space Cooperation With U.S. Not Affected by Ukraine, Russian Official Says | Business
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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