<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>"That's why Atlas can't be used for the Vision for Space Exploration"<br /><br />Not so, if it can be used for national security payloads and nuclear payloads, it can be used for VSE<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Well, without engines, it can't be used for any payloads, can it?<br /><br />Maybe using russian engines for national security and nuclear payoads was a bad idea? Although I'm not sure which nuclear payloads you are referring to. If you're thinking about RTG's, the problem we're discussing here is not rockets blowing up because of Russian engines, but rockets not getting launched because of lack of Russian engines. Of course this is bad for any high-priority launch, but whether or not there is nuclear material on board is irrelevant unless I've misunderstood what you mean.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, the point is that one of the criterias in the Vision for Space Exploration is that it will use American hardware and workforce and not rely on any foreign nations. This is not the "International Moon Station". This is an American space program. Hinging the lunar exploration program on deliveries of Russian (or any foreign) engines or other vital parts would be a bad idea, as international political climates (and the availability and price of said vital parts) can change so much in a decade.<br /><br />Besides, of course, there are the political reasons of American politicians and tax payers wanting their money spent in the US. Can't say I blame them.<br /><br />Whether EELV's are technically better suited to launch Orion is another debate, but the fact that Atlas V uses Russian engines pretty much automatically excludes it from playing a vital role in the next big shiny new manned American space program. The news of a possible engine shortage just confirms why that is. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff9900">----------------------------------</font></p><p><font color="#ff9900">My minds have many opinions</font></p> </div>