MOSCOW, June 21. /TASS/. The United States has only four Russian RD-181 engines left that can help it launch two Cygnus cargo spaceships, Head of Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.
"Let me remind you that in response to the American sanctions Roscosmos has ceased the delivery of our RD-180 and RD-181 engines. A pair of RD-181 engines powers a US Antares rocket, which is the basic launch vehicle for the Cygnus resupply ship that yesterday suffered an unpleasant setback. As a result of our counter-sanctions, the US has only four RD-181 engines left. They will suffice for two Cygnus launches," Rogozin said on his Telegram.
Roscosmos believes that the United States will have to turn to Russia with a request to resume the delivery of engines, if it fails to adapt the Cygnus spacecraft for a new launch vehicle, the Roscosmos press office reported on Tuesday.
"In actual fact, the US needs to adapt the Cygnus spacecraft for a new carrier, which will take several years and require large funds or it will have to return to Russia with a request for new engine deliveries," the press office reported.
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) earlier reported that an American Cygnus space freighter would leave the International Space Station (ISS) on June 23. Before that, it was set to adjust the space station’s orbit. However, the adjustment of the space station’s orbital altitude scheduled for the evening of June 20 was disrupted.