I think, this is a great opportunity for Elon Musk to make his place permanent in the space supplies sector and for privatization of space sector. I would be really looking forward to how things will turn out for him. I'm not a fan of him, but just say.. I'm interested in his work.

Though, reliability and espionage-possibility would remain a concern.

Well needless to say this is good news for SpaceX which will probably accelerate their plans for a dragon capsule that can carry passengers.

First step in annexing the ISS. Wasn't entirely unexpected but seems like a poor long term move on Putin's part.

That's sad that all this dirty politics affects the fun of exploring space

Being of strategic value, space was political from day one. Nothing ever done in space was entirely apolitical. AAMOF, there would be no exploration at all without politics. So get used to it.

So, the beatings will continue until morale improves? Is that the best offer you got?

Fucking hell. No wonder this world ain't worth saving.

You don't understand my point. If you look at human psychology, things connected to power are often fascinating, but not always in the "I'm going to get the other guy and beat the shit of him" way. Young boys are fascinated with toy helicopters, trucks, army soldiers, and yes, spaceships, but they aren't being evil/scheming about it. For them, it's just a game. There are two levels of fascination with power: a) the childish "ooh that's cool" and b) the adult "hmm, we would be a pretty powerful nation/team/individuals if we got hold of it".

But the underlying reason why something is fascinating -- because it is connected with power -- doesn't change. So it is hypocritical to claim that "I want this and that, and my intention are innocent and sincere" when the object of your desire is a helicopter gunship. Now, something flying at 7.8 km per second is potentially far more dangerous than a helicopter gunship.

In other words, wanting space exploration to be free of politics is essentially wanting power to be free of politics. Which is a bit oxymoronic. As soon as your exploration produces something interesting, be it knowledge, materials, or even location, someone else is going to want it for themselves.

Sanctions with a country as large as Russia are defiantly a two way street.

Sometimes people appear to forget this during talk about handing them out.

I don't think anybody forgot that at all.

The bet is that Russia's economy is so much smaller now in relation to the other economic giants, as compared to the cold war days, that the ability for the US and EU to hurt Russia is greater than Russia's ability to cause damage back the other way, by a substantial factor.

The US economy by itself is eight times the size of Russia's. Europe has four economies as big as Russia's. Canada and Australia now have economies nearly on par with Russia's.

Russia only has one real trick up its sleeve, and that's natural gas. They can act on that, but it'll cripple their own domestic economy and send the oligarchs into a fit, which risks Putin's power.

For emphasis:

US + UK + Germany + Italy + Spain + France + Canada + Australia = $32 trillion in GDP give or take. Russia = $2 trillion. It's obvious who will win a battle of sanctions. Not to mention the ruble can fairly easily be crushed by the dollar hegemony.

I'm not saying the west won't win.

I'm just saying don't forget the cost. And incidentally, I'm not entirely convinced that paper wealth trumps natural resources in today's world.

Also, I wouldn't count on Russia having only "one trick up it's sleeve".

All the allies on the Western Front of WW2 counted to a fraction of the Russian forces on the Eastern Front. People like to forget it was Russia that won WW2.

Everyone loses here. US, Russia, and especially Ukraine.

definitely* .

SpaceX will be happy.

Well good luck to Russia, totalitarian fascism would work out great I am sure. There would be millions of Russians spinning in their graves if they knew of what the "motherland" has become.

Don't be fooled. Snowden is not in a free paradise, it's just one place the Obama admin can't touch him.

Which means what? Presumably Snowden would be happy anywhere he isn't being arrested and extradited back to the US.

And where else is that, except in Russia? Possibly maybe in some South American countries, if only he could get there...

Good luck getting fed western propaganda. US want's to play ball and sanction Russia over issue nobody in their office has any clue about?

No more military technology exports. End of story, save your 'motherland' comments.

It's a shame that science, which often bridges political divides, has to suffer due to political bullshit. Somewhat understandable given the history of space exploration, but bullshit nonetheless.

It also makes Russia look like a petulant child, taking its ball and going home because it didn't get to eat another child's chocolate.

This is only Russia refusing to sell rocket engines to the US Government for use in launching military rockets into space. This has nothing to do with the scientific collaboration.

Actually, it would appear the Russkies are diminishing cooperation on the ISS itself. FTFA:

"He also said Russia would reject a U.S. request to prolong the use of the International Space Station beyond 2020."

As a person who has only very recently discovered how intriguing the ISS can be, I had been hoping the Ukraine issue wouldn't affect the ISS. It's too bad, but then again, space is large and there are more players than just the U.S. and Russia. There is Japan and a large European (w/o Russia) contingent.

I'd call not continuing ISS beyond 2020, when according to NASA there is no technical reason that it could not operate until at least 2028 to be a blow for scientific collaboration.

They also pulled agreement to continue International Space Station operation until 2024