Russia Stop Selling Rocket Engines To U.S, Tells U.S To ‘Fly On Broomsticks’

Russia’s Space Agency, Roscosmos, stop supplying rocket engines to the United States.

Tells U.S to ‘fly on broomsticks’, in retaliation for its sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

It will also stop servicing rocket engines it had previously delivered to the United States.

Russia has delivered a total of 122 RD-180 engines to the United States since 1990s.

Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the State Space agency, Roscosmos, on Thursday, said Russia has decided to stop supplying rocket engines to the United States in retaliation for its sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

“In a situation like this we can’t supply the United States with our world’s best rocket engines. Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don’t know what,” Rogozin said on state Russian television.

According to Rogozin, Russia has delivered a total of 122 RD-180 engines to the U.S. since 1990s, 98 of which have been used to power Atlas launch vehicles.

Rogozin also said Roscosmos will stop servicing rocket engines it had previously delivered to the U.S. He added that the U.S. still has 24 engines that would now be left without Russian technical assistance.

• See Also : List Of Automakers That Have Suspended Shipment Of Vehicles To Russia

The head of Roscosmos also renewed threats to terminate Russian participation in the International Space Station.

“Americans are pragmatic people. They want to maintain cooperation with Russia within the International Space Station despite the numerous sanctions,”

“Why? Because it is impossible to manage the space station without us (Russia). We’re responsible for its navigation and fuel delivery. I’m not talking about the interdependence of all control systems.”

“Therefore, we will closely monitor the actions of our American partners and, if they continue to be hostile, we will return to the question of the existence of the International Space Station,” he said.

“I would not like such a scenario because I expect that the Americans will cool down.”

• See Also : Putin’s Favourite Bike : Harley-Davidson Suspends Shipments Of Motorcycles To Russia