According to an internal memo obtained by The Verge, NASA will be severing ties with Russian government officials over the country’s “violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The memo says all meetings between NASA employees and Russian officials have been banned. That extends to personal visits, phone calls, and even emails. The only exception being made is for “operational International Space Station activities.” (Right now, the U.S. buys trips to the ISS from Russia; it’s unclear how this will affect that arrangement, if at all.)
The memo comes after NASA chief Charles Bolden slammed Congress for failing to increase the NASA budget enough to stay independent of Russia.
Here, via SpaceRef, is the full text of the email:
We’ve reached out to NASA and will report back when we learn more.
**Update: **NASA has released a statement. Here it is in full: