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Russia Close To Findings On Soyuz and Proton
First time accepted submitter neBelcnU writes "It's still early, but there are findings for the recent losses of a Proton and Soyuz rockets. There was a procedural error in the Proton's flight planning, and the 3rd stage gas-generator is the center of attention in the Soyuz. From the article: 'The Soyuz investigation has not formally issued its findings or recommended corrective actions. A launch schedule for the next manned flight to the International Space Station will not be decided until the commission completes its work.'"
In Soviet Russia rockets launch you!
It is good to see they at least have an idea for what has caused the issue.
I'll meet you at the intersection of "Should be" and "Reality"
As far as I know, the issue with the Proton was entirely software related and relatively simple to correct once it was found. Mostly because the software isn't destroyed during an accident.
The issue with the Soyuz is hardware related and doesn't have that benefit. There is something wrong with the gas generator of the turbo pumps, that pump oxygen and rocket fuel into the burning cambers. (Which is using hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate to drive them, just like the old German V2 rocket IIRC.) Without having any leftovers to inspect after the failure, it's going to be much harder to ascertain whether its origin has been found or not. But they should be able to find it.
They just had an ex-astronaut on NPR yesterday talking about how they'd have to evacuate the ISS by mid-November if Soyuz craft weren't flying again by that time.
The ex-astronaut said that was a REALLY short time-frame for an investigation to be conducted and corrections to be made, so he was quite fearful that we'd have to leave the ISS unmanned.
Maybe that won't be the case!
With the first link, the chain is forged.
s there a lock on the door? I know it's far-fetched, but assuming someone had the capability - what would keep some 'rouge' entity (nation or otherwise) from launching themselves into orbit, occupying the thing and... well... at worst, de-orbiting it into a population center or at best causing a huge political embarrassment - say, by claiming the thing as their own?
True, but we could blow it out of the sky with a missile. It would make a big ol' could of debris, but at least gigantic chunks wouldn't survive re-entry (I assume).
With the first link, the chain is forged.
All the recent news about the possibility of leaving ISS uninhabited got me to thinking....
Is there a lock on the door?
Imagine if you went for a spacewalk and locked yourself out... you couldn't exactly open a window to climb back inside :).
Of course there is. It's a new type called an air-lock.
what would keep some 'rouge' entity (nation or otherwise) from launching themselves into orbit
Damn communists. Always trying to steal our shit.
"Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
There's only a hand full of nations with the technical capability, much less the financial ability to launch something up that far. Most of them have a lot invested into the ISS. Blowing it up or something would be a tremendous waste. There's much easier ways to destroy a city.
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De-orbiting it would require a spacecraft docked to it. As far as I know it has no maneuvering capability of its own, and the only delta-V available to modify its orbit (including de-orbiting it) is in the Progress or Soyuz thrust stage (and previously was sometimes assisted by the Shuttle OMS engines).
..
The worst-case rogue scenario would be a rogue nation with a secret launch capability to put something with a compatible docking system into the ISS' orbit. The only country I know of that's close would be China (maybe) and I don't know if the Shenzhou uses a docking system that's compatible with the NASA APAS system.
And you can rest assured that if anyone were making preparations to fly a mission like that, a number of major intel organizations would be asking a lot of questions and making a lot of briefings, so it wouldn't stay secret for long once an actual spacecraft stack starts coming together at a launch facility
If it's on a re-entry trajectory, it's going to land where it's going to land, and it would take a very large missile indeed to reduce it to small enough pieces to not pose a serious threat. The main truss itself is made of some very large and massive pieces. But again, de-orbiting it would take a fairly large amount of energy they'd have to bring with them. Other than that, the big worry would be vandalism of various sorts.
what would keep some 'rouge' entity (nation or otherwise) from ... occupying the thing
Are you saying that Sarah Palin is going to try to take over the ISS? She could certainly cause huge political embarrassment.
I am officially gone from
Just think, if we still had the space shuttle, this would be a non-issue. Thanks US gov't!
So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
Does Nasa have any plan to have 1 more shuttle launch. There was some talk of having a backup shuttle lunch ready to fly but not a plan to have a mission.
Is there the parts out there to slap a mission together to get to the ISS.
Better hope so, to keep out the vermicious knids!
But interestingly, the ONE government that ISN'T part of the ISS that does have a space program (China) uses a docking collar that will mate with the ISS.
Funny that.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
I don't know if the Shenzhou uses a docking system that's compatible with the NASA APAS system.
Is is. Not that I think they would do it. There would be no upside and it would create a great uproar. But theoretically, they could do it.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Actually, gigantic chunks of debris could survive reentry--it's actually surprisingly bad at destroying things completely. Look up how much survived on Skylab's reentry, for instance, or how much survived of Columbia.
However, there's no real risk of some dictator flying up and occupying the place, since (given that the Russian fleet is currently grounded) there is exactly one other country currently capable of flying to the ISS: China. And there's obviously no reason for them to use the ISS as a colony drop weapon, since they possess a number of cheaper and more effective nuclear weapons, and in any event would mostly just lose from a major war (imagine both the Russian and American stockpiles being targeted at them...ouch).
say, by claiming the thing as their own?
What are salvage rights in orbit? Space X could probably get people up there in an impressive amount of time if they were so motivated.
My God, it's Full of Source!
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There would be no upside
and it would create a great uproar.
Oh, hell yes.
My God, it's Full of Source!
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What? A country developing a space program decides to use a technology that would allow them to interoperate with the various other countries who are already in space? Thus making it easier for them to join international coalitions, which have been shown to be the most effective way to carry out actitvities in space? Imagine that....
And here I thought slashdot was for open standards...
Just imagine what a good will gesture it would be if China restocked the ISS while the Russian program is grounded.
APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
Kinda easier since Shonzu is based on Soyuz, but it does rather make sense.
All your base belong to us!
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!