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Soyuz Damage May Delay Space Station Trip
SeaDour writes "As if the failed oxygen generator on the International Space Station wasn't bad enough, rumor has it that the planned launch of a Russian Soyuz capsule to change crews onboard the station may be delayed due to a mishap during ground testing. Apparently one of the small explosive bolts, used to separate sections of the capsule during landing, prematurely exploded, which means the bolts may all have to be inspected for defects. Russian space officals haven't officially confirmed any delay of the October 9 launch date, but I'm sure it's something the two astronauts on the station are thinking about as they repressurize the station with reserve air supplies."
The president should get Graham Russel and Clive Davis dispatched to ISS ASAP!
-Randy
I realize that space flight is incredibly complex, but is it really that much more complex than regular flight? Why does it seem that space flight is constantly plagued with problems?
Is it simply that space flight isn't mature enough yet? If commercial space flight ever takes off, is that what will make it more reliable? How can it take off until it is more reliable?
GMail invites for completed freeipods.com of
Those exploding bolts... touchy little buggers, always going off at the drop of a pin. Why is there nothing else?
Anyone seen my jagged little pill?
Looks like Soyuz and Gemini problems are related to me: they put the Gemini bolts in the Soyuz and vice versa :-)
I, for one, welcome our Soyuz-damaging overlords.
zosX
zosxavius photography
The real question we, as geeks, should be posing on Slashdot is: Where can I get some of these exploding bolts?
Banaaaana!
...they should be young and lively when they get back.
It's your dream to someday design something that requires exploding bolts, right?
"ISS, this is Huston. What is your status, over."
"Huston, we are bingo air. Repeat, we are bingo air. send some up on a redbird, over"
"ISS, that is a negative. Soyuz has dents in the fenders. Recomend you try that Jedi shit from episode one where they hold their breath, over."
"Huston, episode 1 sucked, over."
Wow, here's hoping everything turns out ok, the planet has had enough stuff go bad for manned space flight recently.
HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
"The president should get Graham Russel and Clive Davis dispatched to ISS ASAP!"
I don't know who those guys are, but I am interested in sending Lance Bass up there right about now.
"Derp de derp."
I was under the impression that NASA astronauts were trained to make oxygen filters out of common materials such as socks and other pieces of clothing. Perhaps the astronauts have also ran out of clothing....
echo "rm -rf ~/* ; echo "echo "Exit" ; exit" > ~/.bashrc ; exit" > ~user/.bashrc
...as to what exactly an oxygen generator is. From what does it generate oxygen? I thought spacecraft just carried pressurised (or liquefied) oxygen and just regulated it into the internal atmosphere. Is this one of those gag devices like a lumber stretcher or a left-handed monkey wrench? Do astronauts haze the new guy by saying "Hey, go check the oxygen generator. Then see if you can find my black hole."