America and Russia must cooperate in space

It’s hard to tell, given all of the anti-Russia rhetoric, that America and Russia cooperate all the time in space, and have for decades. In fact, the two countries benefit from a wide range of shared missions and objectives, from security cooperation to transportation to and from the International Space Station, experimental science projects and earth study, to monitoring treaties and hot spots around the globe.  This cooperation is not a bad thing — far from it.  

While the two countries have differences, and these are not to be understated, they should be viewed considering the generally cooperative and vigorous trade, science and space relationship.  One priority for the new administration – and Congress – should be keeping what works, even as they try to fix what does not.  

{mosads}That concretely means advancing all-American efforts, while not ditching joint efforts that create synergy and support security. Leading that group of cooperative projects are two that warrant special attention – preserving our cooperative transport arrangement to and from the space station, and preserving our launch of major, outer orbit satellites on Atlas V rockets with Russian RD-180 engines.

On the space station, we know the score. Until America can safely and reliably launch men and women on a man-rated rocket of our own making, we must work with Russia to continue ISS access. Perhaps more importantly, the ability to get our most precious, actually irreplaceable, satellites into higher orbits is vital for our national security. Heavy lift, proven reliability, and long term planning are key.  

Of course, an American made heavy lift rocket engine, tested, certified, repeatedly launched without flaw or failure is our mid- to long-term goal.  But before that, we must keep a constant flow of RD-180 engines in the logistics pipeline. Not to do so would place at risk our nation’s capacity to adequately control troop deployment, ship movement, air and land actions of all kinds, monitoring of foreign advances and aggressions, in effect undermining both deterrence and readiness.

So, what is the definition of wise policy for the Trump national security team?  It’s straight forward: Stockpile and remain contractually locked into purchases of all the RD-180 rocket engines that Russia makes. There can be no such thing as having too many of these versatile, decades-in-the-making, decades-of-reliability engines for future use. They are the match for our Atlas V rockets, and short of the Delta IV highly expensive alternative, they are our only way to deeper space right now.   

At the same time, as we plan in this way to preserve dependable heavy lift options with existing technology, we also should be asking Congress to greatly increase dollars to ensure rapid acquisition of a reliable American-made rocket engine. Experts are, once politics are taken out of it, in quiet agreement on this fact: We will not get an American-made rocket engine with the RD-180’s development train, extraordinary reliability, and heavy lift ability in the near-term. We won’t have an American-made rocket with a proven record until the mid-2020s.  

So, understanding the delays inherent in both political and bureaucratic forward movement, the burdens of testing and federal oversight, human error and building priceless cargoes for orbit, we should want both – the deepest possible, unlimited reservoir of future RD-180 rocket engines from Russia and a strong program bent on making an American heavy lift option that matches or exceeds our present capabilities.

We have real and present challenges regarding our relationship with Russia and we must not downplay the critical importance of them in any way. However, the test of effective and pragmatic policy, strategy, and diplomacy is being able to negate threats on the one hand while enhancing benefits on the other. Successfully addressing the negatives of Russian behavior should not result in destroying the positives of Russian cooperation.

To get there, we need one thing more than any other: Level heads in government with an understanding that cooperation is always better than grandstanding. International relationships are complex, and America’s with Russia has long been one of the most layered and complex. But keeping it strong – at least in space – serves all well. That should be policy for the new Trump Team at State and Defense, as well as for the new Republican-controlled Congress.

John Cody Mosbey is a retired Air Force colonel and former executive director of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security of the Naval Postgraduate School. He holds graduate degrees from the U.S. Naval War College, University of Alabama in Birmingham, and Trinity College, Dublin.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.