Russia, Orbital Sciences, and the American Rocket Problem

"I don't see how Orbital, given all the negative publicity around Russian engines, could go with another Russian engine," says Marco Caceres, space industry analyst for aerospace and defense consultancy Teal Group. "How could the CEO explain another accident to shareholders? I think you have to go with a red, white, and blue company."

But finding that company could prove daunting. Aerojet Rocketdyne's existing production line produces powerful engines for the Delta IV and NASA's new super-heavy-lifting Space Launch System—likely too much engine for Orbital's medium-sized Antares rocket, Caceres says.