Russia and the ISS
Discussion
If an astronaut had to abandon an orbiting spacecraft in some sort of an escape pod or escape module, in order to re-enter the atmosphere and return to earth, the escape pod needs to have some sort of rockets attached so that it can reduce its orbital velocity so that it starts the re-entry process.
Of course, if nothing is done, the module might re-enter the atmosphere on its own accord due to orbital decay. The problem is that can take days, weeks or even months for this to happen, and by then, the astronaut occupant would have long depleted their oxygen supply.
For a one man escape module to safely return an astronaut to earth, it needs to be able to start the re-entry process within minutes of leaving the stricken spacecraft.
Of course, if nothing is done, the module might re-enter the atmosphere on its own accord due to orbital decay. The problem is that can take days, weeks or even months for this to happen, and by then, the astronaut occupant would have long depleted their oxygen supply.
For a one man escape module to safely return an astronaut to earth, it needs to be able to start the re-entry process within minutes of leaving the stricken spacecraft.
The Shuttle's de-orbit burn knocked a couple of hundred miles an hour of the 17,500 mph orbital velocity. This changed the angle of the orbit slightly which allowed the Shuttle to dip into the upper atmosphere. Atmospheric drag did the rest.
For an astronaut to start entering the upper atmosphere, he too would need to decelerate by around 200-300 mph.
For an astronaut to start entering the upper atmosphere, he too would need to decelerate by around 200-300 mph.
They already have two spacecraft that are heading towards manned operations - Dragon and Orion. If it was considered a national emergency, both could be carrying men within two years.
My hunch is that NOTHING related to manned spaceflight has any priority with the current administration.
My hunch is that NOTHING related to manned spaceflight has any priority with the current administration.
Agreed - Dragon would be the best option for an emergency programme to retain ongoing access to the ISS -if the Russians pulled the plug (which I actually doubt they will).
It all depends on how desperate the situation gets. When John Glenn flew on the Atlas back in 1962, by modern standards, the Atlas was by no means man rated.
It all depends on how desperate the situation gets. When John Glenn flew on the Atlas back in 1962, by modern standards, the Atlas was by no means man rated.
Russian Rocket said:
my opinion of the space shuttle has changed over the years
in the 80's I was an awestruck teenager thought it was cool, it was going to be cheep space flight with a launch every couple weeks and the way forward.
I now think it was a complete bodge job designed by a committee and doomed to failure. it turned out to be very expensive and unreliable, crappy payload, generally piss poor performance, about 2% catastrophic failure rate
I am sure it was just a matter time before they lost another one and that there was a collective sigh of relief when it retired.
Had nasa put the money into developing the Saturn rocket (like Russia continues Soyuz) then spaceflight would be far more advanced than it is. America cant even put a man into space at the moment Nasas next planned manned mission is at 7 years away
A lot Americans are very proud of it, I have seen it described as the most advanced machine ever built. I think as time makes the memory less painful it will be remembered in darker terms
Very much in line with my view too.in the 80's I was an awestruck teenager thought it was cool, it was going to be cheep space flight with a launch every couple weeks and the way forward.
I now think it was a complete bodge job designed by a committee and doomed to failure. it turned out to be very expensive and unreliable, crappy payload, generally piss poor performance, about 2% catastrophic failure rate
I am sure it was just a matter time before they lost another one and that there was a collective sigh of relief when it retired.
Had nasa put the money into developing the Saturn rocket (like Russia continues Soyuz) then spaceflight would be far more advanced than it is. America cant even put a man into space at the moment Nasas next planned manned mission is at 7 years away
A lot Americans are very proud of it, I have seen it described as the most advanced machine ever built. I think as time makes the memory less painful it will be remembered in darker terms
Apollo was most definitely on the drawing board before Kennedy's 1961 speech. In fact, North American had already won the contract for the Command/Service Module and were well on their way to designing what would eventually be described as the Block 1 Spacecraft.
At roughly the same time, Von Braun's US Army team at Huntsville had already started preliminary work on the Saturn series of boosters and had transferred to NASA by the end of 1958.
HOWEVER, there is no doubt that even this early work would not have been done without the pressure of the Soviet Union's early successes. The foundation of NASA itself and Project Mercury were a direct response to Sputnik.
Originally, Apollo was seen as a follow on to Mercury. Essentially, it was envisaged as a more sophisticated spacecraft that would allow longer periods in orbit (up to two weeks) with possible lunar orbit capability.
So, by May 1961, a lot of the ground work had already been set in place and it was this initial work which allowed Kennedy's redefined Apollo to get a running start.
At roughly the same time, Von Braun's US Army team at Huntsville had already started preliminary work on the Saturn series of boosters and had transferred to NASA by the end of 1958.
HOWEVER, there is no doubt that even this early work would not have been done without the pressure of the Soviet Union's early successes. The foundation of NASA itself and Project Mercury were a direct response to Sputnik.
Originally, Apollo was seen as a follow on to Mercury. Essentially, it was envisaged as a more sophisticated spacecraft that would allow longer periods in orbit (up to two weeks) with possible lunar orbit capability.
So, by May 1961, a lot of the ground work had already been set in place and it was this initial work which allowed Kennedy's redefined Apollo to get a running start.
AreOut said:
this is silly, 40 years ago we had regular space flights and supersonic airliner flying from NY to London in 3 hours and now US depends on russian engines while transatlantic flight takes 7 hours...
Sum Ting Wong
Not quite right really. 40 years ago was 1974. 1974 was the year (more or less) where Apollo was wound down. The last flight to Skylab was made that year and the only remaining Apollo era mission was the Apollo/Soyuz mission of 1975.Sum Ting Wong
After that there was a six year hiatus whilst NASA for the Shuttle ready for its first flight, which happened in 1981.
So, 40 years ago NASA was entering a very similar situation to where it is today i.e. a long gap period where it was unable to send humans into space.
Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff