US company United Launch Alliance (ULA) has ordered additional Russian rocket RD-180 engines, the company announced in a statement.
US company United Launch Alliance (ULA) has ordered additional Russian rocket RD-180 engines, the company announced in a statement.
In 2014, Congress passed a law requiring the United States
to develop a domestically produced next-generation rocket propulsion
system by 2019 in order to eliminate reliance on the
Russian RD-180 rocket engines.
ULA has ordered additional Atlas engines to serve our
existing and potential civil and commercial launch customers until a new
American-made engine can be developed and certified,” the statement said
on Wednesday.
ULA explained in the statement that while it is the right time to move to the use of American engines, it is critical to make sure that the transition from one engine to another is smooth.
“Until then, this bridge contract will allow ULA
to provide the reliable, affordable launch services our civil and
commercial customers depend on from us while the new, American engine is
being developed,” the company said.
On Friday, the Congress passed an all-encompassing 2,200 page
budget that includes a provision allowing the United States to continue
purchasing the Russian RD-180 rocket engines, which it uses for national
defense and other space launches.
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