Commander Of U.S. Air Space Command Calls For An End To Being Reliant On Russian Rockets

Photo: Shelton on SpaceX suit: 'Generally, the person you're going to do business with you don't sue.' (Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz/Air Force)

Pentagon's Space Chief Warns on Conflict, U.S. Capabilities -- Wall Street Journal

The Pentagon's most senior space commander warned of a growing risk of conflict in space, and questioned U.S. readiness to tackle emerging threats because of its reliance on Russian-made rocket engines.

Gen. William Shelton, Commander of Air Force Space Command told an industry conference on Tuesday that ,he supported the development of a U.S.-made rocket engine to replace a Russian booster that the U.S. uses to send half of its military and intelligence payloads into orbit. Gen. Shelton said a homegrown alternative is important given Russia's recent pledge to halt sales of its rocket to the U.S. military.

The state of the U.S. space industry has come into sharp focus in recent weeks following Russia's move and a brewing legal battle between the Pentagon, its main rocket provider and a new entrant known as SpaceX run by entrepreneur Elon Musk, who alleges he is being crowded out of the multibillion-dollar market.

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