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NASA has cut all contacts with Russia except for cooperation aboard the International Space Station, according to an internal memo obtained by news site The Verge.
NASA did not immediately return calls for comment.
However, a copy of the memo posted online described a halt to travel to Russia by NASA employees and to visits by Russians to NASA facilities, and a freeze on exchange of email, teleconferences and video conferences.
“Given Russia’s ongoing violation of Ukraine¹s sovereignty and territorial integrity, until further notice, the US government has determined that all NASA contacts with Russian government representatives are suspended, unless the activity has been specifically excepted,” it said.
The new policy does not apply to “operational International Space Station activities” or “multilateral meetings held outside of Russia that may include Russian participation,” added the memo.
Soyuz
Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft are the sole means of transport to the ISS for the world’s astronauts. The United States pays Russia an average of $70.7 million per seat.
The direction applied to “all NASA centers” and was ordered by Michael O’Brien, NASA’s associate administrator for International and Interagency Relations.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told lawmakers on March 27 that he was aware of no threat that would jeopardize the Russian-US partnership at the space station.
Earlier today, NATO warned that Russia’s military presence on the flashpoint border — estimated at about 40,000 troops — with Ukraine was of “grave concern.”
NATO yesterday announced the alliance was suspending all practical cooperation with Russia, military and civilian, and that there was no confirmation that Russian troops were pulling back from the border.
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They just need to give each other some space.
Said with the utmost gravity, I’m sure.
NASA needs Russia more than Russia needs them.
Not really, NASA has only been using Russia as a temporary solution. They were using Russian Soyuz craft until the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services and Commercial Crew Development programs were ready to go live. While the lead contender, SpaceX’s Dragon, won’t be ready to launch crewed missions to the ISS until December 2015 NASA are currently using SpaceX to resupply the ISS with unmanned craft.
You live in fantasy land Jason.
Please do explain oh wise Robert.
Better get them Space Shuttles out of storage. Otherwise the ISS guys are stranded up there. Talk about stupid.
Safe to assume that the Russians won’t actually refuse to bring Western astronauts back down!
That’s an idea. You get out of Ukraine and we’ll bring your astronauts back. They’ve both the US and the EU by the balls now.
I can’t imagine that a gaggle of orbiting scientists are really crucial to American or European national security. Not exactly “by the balls”, I’m afraid.
No, but the ISS might just be worth a few bob. Maybe Pootie Poot will be the next space tourist. Will they start throwing the Americans out of Baikonur now?
*Probably* not but you never know. If this spat goes on for a number of years, the ISS might be scrapped.
The astronauts in the space station won’t be stuck. There are always re-entry vehicles attached to the ISS in case of emergency. Getting other astronauts up will be a problem though!
NASA has cut it’s nose off to spite it’s face. This is the type of maturity which is beneficial to no-one particularly NASA.
When Astronauts and cosmonauts look at the world from space they do not see Political borders or countries or nations, that only see one big blue beautiful space ball they call home.
This is very sad and disappointing.
It’s not really NASA though, is it? It’s the US government. NASA themselves couldn’t care less. The US government are the ones threatening cuts to funding in a way that would leave it impossible for NASA to continue the same level of cooperation.
You do know that NASA is a U.S goverment ran agency.
I sure do. You obviously didn’t read my comment properly!
You seem to think NASA is not under U.S governent control.Maybe you need to reword your own statement.You might be confused with NATO…Or maybe your just having an auld anti-US rant.
International Diplomacy is not Rocket Science
Stupid of the US. They don’t have the technology now to travel in space. They need the Russians. It’s bad the US supported he establishment of a partly fascist regime in Kiev and now try to punish Russians for democratically protecting Ethnic Russians.
What happens if Putin annexes Poland to protect ethnic Russians? Or Germany annexes Austria and the Sudetenland again? Or France tries it on with the Swiss?
Once again, Nicole runs her mouth on a topic she knows absolutely nothing about just to get another dig in at the US. She makes looking like a fool look easy.
Or republic annexes Northern Ireland …. And Scotland sure we are all celts underneath !,
Too much cooperation on space these days anyway. The best thing about the cold war was the space race – competition spurs innovation. Europe, Russia, USA & China all competing with one another would achieve far more than everyone working together with no real motivation to innovate and advance.
Indeed so.
To the extent that NASA are a shadow of their former selves.
Yet another rover on Mars is the most of their ambition.
The Obama administration cut their funds considerably.
Jeremy, NASA are currently developing a new plan to send the first manned mission to the moon since the Apollo program in preparation for a manned mission to Mars. They’re gearing up for big missions over the course of the next 20 years. The main focus of NASA in the last 10 years was pushing for commercialisation of space transportation services so they can both spend more money on their bigger projects and not have to worry about the mundane missions that take up a lot of their time.
Seems like the start of another cold war, and you can’t see Putin not wanting a war really the way he carries on
With oxtail soup, finipops, don’t forget the oxtail soup!!
The United States is now biting the hand that feeds it.
Russia feeds the US?!
Frank, what are you smoking?
Russia was only ever a stop-gap solution until the CTOS program was completed. Besides, NASA canceled their cargo services with Russia already in 2012.
Another short sighted Obama blunder hip hip for the red white and blue.
Stop fighting in front of the kids and look at the bigger picture!
Time for Gilmore to step up and join the space race.
The West should sanction agricultural exports to Russia. That would really hurt them. http://www.thecropsite.com/news/9426/russias-agricultural-aim-to-become-selfsufficient
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