Russian Official Tells US to 'Jump on a Trampoline' to Reach Space

Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian deputy prime minister, told the United States they could "jump on a trampoline" to get to space after the US imposed sanctions over the Ukraine crisis, Reuters reported.

Since the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011, American astronauts have depended on Russian rockets to get to the International Space Station (ISS). But after the invasion of Crimea by Russia, Washington and Moscow have engaged in a war of sanctions. The US now denies export licenses for high-tech items that could aid Russia's military.

Both nations had agreed that the space station would be off limits in their political battle, until recently.

Rogozin, outraged by the move, came up with an idea that could help out the United States.

"After analyzing the sanctions against our space industry, I suggest to the USA to bring their astronauts to the International Space Station using a trampoline," Rogozin facetiously tweeted.

"The United States introduced sanctions against our space industry... We warned them, we will reply to statements with statements, to actions with actions," he added.

NASA officials are saying they do not expect Moscow to cut off launch services for the US, since Washington pays Moscow $60 million per astronaut send to the ISS.

Also, Russia, which lags behind in high-tech electronic production - including microchips for satellites - depends on Western imports. Five commercial satellites due to launch aboard Russian rockets will be affected by this latest sanction.

Earlier this month, NASA was also banned from contacting the Russian government. Operation of the space station, a $100 billion project owned by 15 countries, will likely remain exempt.

Sergei Oznobishchev, director at the Institute for Strategic Assessments think-tank in Moscow, said Russia's plan to exclude the United States from space may backfire.

"This is a very sensitive issue since our defense industry was completely unprepared for such developments," he told Reuters. "Both sides will suffer but Russia will lose out more in terms of technology transfer."