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Soyuz Capsule Return Marred By Mystery Communications Blackout

astroengine writes "An unexplained communications loss left flight controllers unable to speak with three space station crew returning to Earth over Kazakhstan during the last 15 minutes of their descent Thursday night. The first indication that the capsule survived its fiery plunge through the atmosphere was a series of beeps signaling components of the Soyuz had been jettisoned as planned. Later, ground controllers picked up signals that the Soyuz's parachutes had deployed, but it wasn't until a Russian recovery aircraft established two-way radio communications with the crew that flight controllers knew all was well."

5 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Communications failure? by girlintraining · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait, you're telling me that plunging through super-heated plasma at mach 17 for several minutes can cause communication problems? HOLY CRAP! :\

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    1. Re:Communications failure? by n5yat · · Score: 3, Funny

      Tweet about life without facebook?

    2. Re:Communications failure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      American crybaby. Is great success, Russian space machine!

  2. Check their DNA by KingSkippus · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should make sure to check the crew's DNA very carefully and make sure they're still human. A lot of really bad things in the movies have started exactly like this.

  3. LightSquared by dietdew7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, my LightSquared broadband is working great!