NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency have worked together for years in space, but that relationship may be radically changing as the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate.

The U.S. will suspend some space-related contact with Russia. However, the countries will continue working together on the International Space Station, where both American and Russian astronauts are currently living together.

In the wake of Russia's moves in Ukraine, NASA told Mashable that it plans on decreasing its reliance on the country in order to send humans to space from American soil by 2017.

"NASA is laser focused on a plan to return human spaceflight launches to American soil, and end our reliance on Russia to get into space," said spokesperson Allard Beutel via email.

"We’re now looking at launching from U.S. soil in 2017," Beutel said. "The choice here is between fully funding the plan to bring space launches back to America or continuing to send millions of dollars to the Russians. It’s that simple."

It was only a few weeks ago that NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said Russia and the U.S. can often look beyond politics when it comes to operations in orbit.

"Right now everything is normal in our relationship with the Russians," Bolden said on March 4. "Since the International Space Station has been in orbit, it's very important to understand that started with a partnership between the United States and Russia. That partnership in space remains intact and normal."

Last month, Bolden said NASA would closely monitor the situation with Russia and Ukraine, which continues to intensify after Russia took over Ukraine's Crimea region.

A new crew, which includes two Russian cosmonauts and NASA astronaut Steve Swanson, launched to the ISS on a Russian Soyuz rocket on March 25. With a now-defunct shuttle program, NASA's only way of getting humans into space is via Russian rocket.

From the left, Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, (Roscosmos), and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. The astronauts left for the ISS on March 25. Image: NASA

President Obama has repeatedly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. would take action if Russia invaded Ukraine. So far, Obama has approved sanctions against top Russian officials and supported a hefty aid package for Ukraine's newly formed government. However, Obama has yet to commit any military involvement, and, at this point, it's highly unlikely he'll put American troops on the ground.

This latest move is an unexpected one as the two space agencies have been able to work together peacefully for years. Even Bolden, who reiterated in March that he wasn't worried about the Ukraine situation as it pertains to NASA, worked in space with Russian cosmonauts just a few years after the Cold War.

The flags of the countries representing the crew members of Soyuz TMA-12M are seen at the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Friday, March 28, 2014. Image: NASA

The ISS, he noted, has been a cornerstone of peace between the two nations, able to operate above politics — a similar sentiment we've before from other astronauts. Canadian Commander Chris Hadfield, who has told Mashable in past interviews that politics doesn't play a part in Russian-American relations in orbit because astronauts work as a team on the ISS, where survival takes priority.

The news broke Wednesday after an internal memo sent to NASA employees was leaked. Michael O'Brien, who handles NASA's international relations, sent this email early Wednesday:

From: O'Brien, Michael F (HQ-TA000) Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 9:33 AM To: [Deleted] Cc: [Deleted] Subject: Suspension of NASA contact with Russian entities Dear Colleagues, Given Russia's ongoing violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, until further notice, the U.S. Government has determined that all NASA contacts with Russian Government representatives are suspended, unless the activity has been specifically excepted. This suspension includes NASA travel to Russia and visits by Russian Government representatives to NASA facilities, bilateral meetings, email, and teleconferences or videoconferences. At the present time, only operational International Space Station activities have been excepted. In addition, multilateral meetings held outside of Russia that may include Russian participation are not precluded under the present guidance. If desired, our office will assist in communication with Russian entities regarding this suspension of activities. Specific questions regarding the implementation of this guidance can be directed to Ms. Meredith McKay, 202.358.1240 or meredith.mckay@nasa.gov, in our office. We remain in close contact with the Department of State and other U.S. Government departments and agencies. If the situation changes, further guidance will be disseminated. Obie Michael F. O'Brien Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Shortly after the news broke on Wednesday, Hadfield, who became a Twitter celebrity while he was in orbit last year, confirmed that NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency would still work together on the space station.

If you're hearing rumours about the NASA impact of Russia in the Crimea, here is the detail: http://t.co/DyK687xanr. Space Station exempt. — Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) April 2, 2014

This suspension with Russia's space agency only includes contact for now, but if the breakup eventually spills over into the ISS, it could be detrimental to America's space program.