US space missions face HUGE delays after Russian sanctions threaten launches

SATELLITE launches at are at risk of cancellation or delay due to a schedule squeeze caused by sanctions against Russia.

Russia was a significant partner in the global effort to populate Earth’s lower orbit with high functioning satellites.

Satellites can be used for military or commercial purposesGetty Images – Getty

Russian President Vladimir Putin is becoming increasingly isolationist on all frontsAFP – Getty

Elon Musk’s company Starlink was created as a subdivision of SpaceX with the intention of beaming high speed internet to customers all over the globe via satellite.

To date, Starlink has over 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, less than 1,000 miles from the surface.

Musk and Starlink are not alone – Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper and other international developers have a similar plans for providing internet access on Earth.

However, sanctions against Russia for their invasion of Ukraine could ground the grand intentions.

Russia’s space program, Roscosmos, put a stoppage on rocket engine sales to the United States.

OneWeb, another internet-via-satellite company with ownership ties to the British government, severed relations with Roscosmos after an ugly back-and-forth between the two entities.

OneWeb had launched 400 satellites in partnership with Roscosmos since 2019 – their future workload is now without a ride to space.

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck told Reuters “come 2024, 2025, when all these mega constellations need a launch, there is going to be a real problem.”

Low Earth orbit satellites have military and commercial applications – they are a big part of Earth’s technological future.

There are economic and regulatory consequences of delaying launches.

“There is a risk of losing launch rights if they do not adhere to an FCC mandated deadline, while some firms may not see return on investment unless their satellite is in orbit,” Reuters wrote.

“Let them fly on something else—their broomsticks—I don’t know what,” Russian diplomat Dmitry Rogozin said regarding non-Russian businesses looking to deposit satellites.

The Verge noted that Rogozin has a flair for making dramatic statements, once threatening to allow the International Space Station crash down to Earth.

Exaggerated or not, Russia and the West are far from collaborating on space pursuits.