The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed an amendment to an Iran-Russia sanctions bill (S. 722) June 15 to ensure NASA and its industry partners can keep relying on Russian-made rocket engines.
Supporters said the amendment makes a “technical” correction to the bill to allow Orbital ATK [OA] to continue using its Antares rocket to launch astronauts to the International Space Station under a contract with NASA. Antares’ first-stage engine is the Russian RD-181.
They also said the amendment will ensure that United Launch Alliance (ULA) can use its Atlas 5 rocket to send crew to the space station for NASA and launch NASA’s Mars 2020 rover and NOAA’s second Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-2) environmental satellite. The Atlas 5’s first-stage engine is the Russian RD-180. ULA is a joint venture between Boeing [BA] and Lockheed Martin [LMT].
Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) offered the amendment, which passed by a 94-6 vote.
“This amendment is not designed to undermine the intent of the bill, but seeks to ensure space exploration may continue as it is currently planned,” Gardner said.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) opposed the amendment, saying NASA and commercial firms should end their dependence on Russian engines just as Congress is requiring the military to do.
The amendment “is a giveaway to the Russian military industrial complex,” McCain said. It will allow “taxpayer dollars to be used to subsidize purchases of Russian rocket engines, purchases which line the pockets of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin’s cronies.”
By a 98-2 vote, the Senate proceeded to pass the overall bill, which aims to address Iran’s destabilizing actions in the Middle East and Russia’s interference in U.S. elections. The Senate passed an amendment by a 100-0 vote that reaffirms the U.S. government’s commitment to defend NATO allies.