The US Congress approved the bill for appropriations for military purposes for the 2015 financial year. The document contains an amendment by Republican Senator John McCain, which is going to prohibit US companies to conclude new contracts with Russian partners to purchase RD-180 engines for Atlas V rockets.
The House of Representatives of the US Congress is taking a vote on the bill for appropriations for military purposes this week, and the Senate, next one.
The RD-180 engines have long been used by the United Launch Alliance consortium on the first stage booster of the Atlas V rocket. It is used to launch not only civil, but also military satellites of the Pentagon into orbit.
The Pentagon and United Launch Alliance are openly opposed to McCain's amendment, fearing that it may affect the stable launch of US military satellites into orbit.
