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Russia Forming Space Alliance With Iran, May Fly Iranian Astronaut (examiner.com)
MarkWhittington writes: Quietly, the Russians appear to be forming a space alliance with the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to a story in Sputnik. Not only is Russia in talks to launch Iranian satellites on Russian rockets but also to include an Iranian astronaut on a future space mission. What that space mission might be is open to question. A visit by an Iranian astronaut to the International Space Station would likely kick up a political firestorm with the United States, even though the Obama administration is attempting to develop a rapprochement with the Islamic Republic.
Woohoo! Space Race II...
At least during GWBush years while we were hated we were respected. Nowdays -- we are a laughed at and publically humiliated.
Obama's foreign policy -- #winning!
Which way is east in space?
"If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
Since they'd be flying with the Russians, wouldn't that make 'em cosmonauts rather than astronauts? While I always found the distinction irrelevant, there's still a difference between astro, cosmo, spatio and taiko nauts...
Or are americans really just not good enough to have a term of their own and astronaut just encompasses their (american) scientists as well as all others?
This isn't Dotslash, this is Slashdot.
Did you mean which way is the shrine in Mecca?
From LEO, it varies, just as it does on the surface. From far away, it would just be towards Earth.
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
Actually, NASA does have a detailed contingency plan for dealing with "rogue elements" in space: bind the subject's wrists and ankles with duct tape, tie them down with a bungee cord, and if needed, inject them with tranquilizers, all the while trying to calm them down verbally, explaining what you're doing and why you need to do it.
It sounds kind of funny that they'd take the time to make such a plan, but it was created in case an astronaut for some reason or another goes crazy while in orbit. It's also allowed for if an astronaut is trying to commit suicide.
What the hells goin on in the engine room? Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?
They would face down and move their heads. At 18,000 miles an hour in orbit, they'd have to face down and keep moving their mats so that they're constantly facing Mecca. And because the time of day is constantly changing rates because of their orbit, their five times a day prayer would happen all the time. Meaning, they'd have to just put their mats on a rotating platform and stay on them constantly in order to adhere to their prayer duties as a Muslim. Let's face it, observant Muslims just cannot cope in space.
I just went back and found the comment you spoke of. I read it. I modded it insightful. Have a nice day.
Until you get your own manned launch capability, you can just shut up and go along for the ride. Or get out and walk.
People need to understand that a more technologically advanced Iran means the world will deal with a more advanced country, and a more advanced government, period. Iran has a lot of extremely smart people who's voices are not heard because they are drowned by the voices of the mentally insane.
The sooner Iran values knowledge and science more than it values blind belief in fairy tales, the better for the rest of the world.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... time... to... die...
It's not that hard. In a gravity-dominated, rotating frame of reference, one always has two special directions, namely the rotation axis (north-south) and direction towards the mass centre (up-down). The east-west axis for given point (unless these two are the same, which only happens at the poles) can be defined as a direction perpendicular to both, with east heading forward relative to rotation speed.
Earth's orbit, Solar system, and Milky way are all such systems. And there's little chance they get beyond Milky way soon.
WYSIWIG, but what you see might not be what you need
American-Iranian Anousheh Ansari went to the ISS onboard a Soyuz as a space tourist in 2006, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anousheh_Ansari
Come on, are you saying that the Iranian space program is really a cover story for the development of, say, a super long-range anti-ship missile?
No, that's SpaceX. ;)
What the hells goin on in the engine room? Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?
I would like ./ editors to stop with "future Russian plans" stories, 'cause I can almost give you a warranty that given the today's economical situation in Russia, and given the fact that it's on the verge of collapse next to nothing will pan out in the nearest 20 to 50 years.
I think it is way to early to write Russia off: Russia is big and has most if not all of the raw materials needed for all the important industries, the ties to China are also becoming stronger, and 20 to 50 years is a very long time.
It would have been better if you'd run a story about the Russian ruble. It's dying. [...]
A low value of a national currency makes imports for this country expensive and exports cheaper for buyers, which means a low valued currency is good for export oriented countries. Russia is an export economy. Considering that Russia mostly exports raw materials, and imports goods like cars, computers etc. such the push from the falling value of the Ruble may actually be good for its industry, because it makes these industries more competitive compared to imported goods (e.g. as imported cars become more expensive cars produced in Russia may become more interesting to Russian buyers).
As an American, believe me when I tell you that our government and most of our country (except for a few crazy right wingers) would love for Iran-US relations to improve at least to where each country doesn't cause the other one problems. In fact, I believe that the USA and Iran will one day again be great friends. Whether that is 10 years, 20 years or 50 years from now remains to be seen. But for reasons I won't go into less it digress into a pointless political discussion that never ends, it seems pretty inevitable for me. Just like if you find the average American under 60 years old probably has a very positive opinion of Japan but old people who lived through World War II may still carry some grudges, with time the older generation that hates the other side will die out and the younger generation will reap the benefits of friendship. I don't think having an Iranian on the ISS would be a big deal and if it leads to less tension between the 2 countries, I say "How quickly can we make this happen?"
I am sure Iran has great scientists and visiting space station is not going to help them develop nukes (or at least experiment payload can be screened to rule that out). What objections can we possibly have to advancement of human knowledge, no matter which country the astronaut is from?
I don't think there has been a direct Iranian terrorist with a DuPont overcoat. they support proxies for that.
mustn't get hands dirty.
if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
Elon does not think this is funny ....
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
What I would give to boot them off of the ISS.
In fucking space!!!!
Where do I sign?
I thought that the reason Iranian leaders hate America so much is because it is a nation of infidels. How would Russia--with its atheist views--not be considered infidels too?
This place has gone to the morons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Muslim_astronauts
Oil prices are very volatile. I think it's foolish to assume that they'll stay at $30 per barrel indefinately. Most likely in 2, 3 years they'll be much higher.
I'm sure we all remember the hilarious Iran Photoshop of their missile program. Having Iran dependent on Russia for satellite launches means they have one less reason to try to advance their own rocketry science. If all it takes is a token Iranian photo-op on the ISS then that is a pretty cheap win. With oil in the toilet Russia could probably use the currency also, and a stable Russia is probably a good thing.
Russia's GDP is on par with Italy's and that was before the price of oil dropped below $80 bbl. Between economic sanctions and the price of oil Russia cannot even afford to invest in expanding any of their exports.
We know that Iran will use this space program for a sinister purpose. Iran has a history of being a country with an aggressive foreign policy, trumped-up pretext for foreign invasions, tonnes of WMD's, and intimidation of any place that does not agree to their policy decisions. It is known they are mass murderers. Name me one aggressive foreign policy, false pretext for war or WMD that America has. None. We can't trust those foreigners.
It would have been better if you'd run a story about the Russian ruble. It's dying.
I won't believe that until Netcraft confirms it.
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
expensive imported goods are forced to find a replacement
In my opinion, an alliance between Russia, Iran, China, India, Vietnam, etc. will define the future. Iran is the ancient civilization. Many concepts and inventions, which we use daily nowadays, were created by the human genius in the ancient Persia.
In comparison, the EU project, or even the US project, have got a serious weakness, - littleness. Eurasia has got 54 million square kilometers of territory, 5 billion population https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Firstly a modern railway network connecting the whole Eurasia, Americas, Africa should be built. Thousands of tunnels, bridges, etc. It will be the work for millions. But for this there should be a leadership in the world. The problem with current leadership is again - the littleness.
I think it is a good idea to cooperate with Iran in space and in other domains.
But Iran is about to start shipping oil world wide again so they'll have new money to spend and as you mentioned, the Russians need it. And let's not forget how close we are to not needing the Soviet launch systems at all. Lot of cargo is now going up via US made( except for some using Russian motors on some) and soon humans too.
Without some new money their current space projects will continue to be massive drains on their already floundering economy.
Interesting times.
Am I the only one sick and tired of almost everyday non-news about Russia? Russia may, Russia will, Russia is planning, Russia is going, Russia wants, etc. Or: a few decades ago Soviet Union did that thing! - well, not really, but planned, wanted, almost got there, etc. Things that actually happen in Russia or done by Russia are not that great these days (years). And certainly most of them are not quite /. material.
Russia does too - the TP-82
Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
The Russian rouble has come under repeated short term attacks by western oligarchs, that always collapse. Russian has many many things far more valuable then inherently vaporous fiat currencies, the resources to back their currency. The rouble will collapse when their resources start to vaporise at the same rate 'money' can, I believe the sun would need to explode for that to happen.
What is happening is a new more cohesive association is forming between countries outside the control of the US government and western oligarchs and bluff and bluster all they want they can do nothing to stop it.
Apparently everyone that disagrees with the US government or more accurately the US Military Industrial Complex is now a Russian agent, double plus if you mention NATO (North American Territorial Occupation force, triple plus I guess for doing that). Oddly enough you can be considered loyal and treasonous at the same time depending upon a particular viewpoint based upon whether you ally with the majority in government or the corrupt corporate minority (reality is you are always treasonous when you conspire with that corporate minority).
Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
The price won't stay at $30 per barrel but hoping for a substantial price increase in 2 to 3 years is not going to happen. It will probably be 10+ years or more. Increased Iranian exports and the US ability to maximize output at existing wells and the oil glut is not going away. And the minute the price exceeds $50 per barrel it becomes economically feasible for the US to not only maximize output at the existing wells but also pay for new wells to be brought online. It was the US output that stated driving the prices down in the first place while SA increased their output in an attempt to push the price low enough that it would not be economically feasible for the US increase production. US oil production in the 70's came to a virtual standstill when the prices went down as low as $12 per barrel.
Can I sponsor a number of one-way flights into orbit for radical Iranians? Perhaps we could crowdfund an effort to launch them all?