The National Aeronautics and Space Administration hasn't publicly said anything new yet about how its relationship with Russia has developed since the country's occupation of Crimea in Ukraine, but an internal memo obtained by The Verge apparently says the space agency has decided to suspend all contact with Russian government representatives, including the exchange of emails, any travel to Russia, teleconferences and even visits by Russian officials to NASA facilities

The suspension, however, does not include NASA's ongoing activities with Russian cosmonauts at the International Space Station, nor does it ban participating in meetings with other countries held outside of Russia that may include Russian officials.

The directives were reportedly issued from Michael O'Brien, the agency's associate administrator for International and Interagency Relations.

"NASA's goals aren't political," said a NASA scientist who to spoke The Verge on condition of anonymity. "This is one of the first major actions I have heard of from the U.S .government and it is to stop science and technology collaboration... You're telling me there is nothing better?"

Last month, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden assured reporters "everything is normal in our relationship with Russia."

However, Bolden last week emphatically told members of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee that the government's ongoing reliance on the Russians for transport up to the International Space Station is unacceptable.

Bolden explained no other advancements in space exploration matters as long as "I can't get my crews to low-Earth orbit."

If the U.S. continues to depend on buying seats aboard Russian space ships, as it's done since the Space Shuttle fleet was decommissioned in 2011, "then everything else is in jeopardy," he said. "I do not want to be reliant on the Russians to get my crews to the International Space Station."

Whether or not Bolden's appeal to lawmakers was a sign things with Russia were becoming a bit strained before, based on the wording of the memo, it's clear something between the two space exploration leaders went south. Here is an excerpt of the memo:

"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 video conferences. 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."

NASA said it would issue a public statement today on the matter.