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McCain Concerned Over Russian Citizens Presence During US Rockets’ Launches

© Flickr / Official U.S. Navy PageAn Atlas V rocket launches the Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) 2 satellite from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
An Atlas V rocket launches the Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) 2 satellite from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Sputnik International
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US Senator John McCain stated that presence of the Russian citizens during the US National Security Space launches with the Russian RD-180 rocket engine raises new troubling questions and is another reason for ending US dependence on Russian rocket engines as quickly as possible.

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft onboard is seen shortly after Launch Complex 41 Vertical Integration Facility on December 2, 2015 - Sputnik International
ULA to Name Cause of US Rocket's Early Booster Shutdown in Week
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – US Senator John McCain expressed concern on Thursday over the necessary presence of the Russian citizens during the US National Security Space launches with the Russian RD-180 rocket engine, the Defense News reported Thursday, citing McCain’s letter to US Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James.

"This access and presence of Russian nationals to the launch vehicles of our most sensitive national security satellites raises new troubling questions and is yet another reason for ending our dependence on Russian rocket engines as quickly as possible," the letter read.

McCain also wondered why James "found it acceptable to have Russian nationals working for Roscosmos, a Russian state corporation, present at our most sensitive satellite launches."

RD-180 - Sputnik International
Development of Two US Engines to Replace Russian RD-180 Going as Planned
In 2014, US Congress passed a law demanding the United States phase out its reliance on the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engines.

However, in the two years after implementing a purchasing ban on the RD-180 engines, Congress has been forced to lift that ban to ensure the United States access to space.

Russia’s RD-180 engines are used for the Atlas V rocket space launches.

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