Discussion
Having seen an Apollo capsule at the science museum many years ago, I decided I would like to see a Soyuz capsule ... So went off to Manchester to see Tim Peake's one.
It is tiny! Hardly space for two yet they fit in 3 Cosmo / Astronauts! I suspect Tim is the largest person they can put in - is he 5'8"?
It is tiny! Hardly space for two yet they fit in 3 Cosmo / Astronauts! I suspect Tim is the largest person they can put in - is he 5'8"?
The Apollo Command Module is still on display at the Science Museum. It is the craft used on Apollo 12 and the only genuine Command Module on display outside the US.
The Soyuz Descent/Re-Entry Module is much smaller. However, there is more to a Soyuz than just the Re-Entry Module. It is actually a three section spacecraft, two of these sections can be accessed during flight by the crew.
During launch and descent, the crew members are crammed into the Descent Module. Once in orbit, they can also use the Orbital Module.
The Soyuz Descent/Re-Entry Module is much smaller. However, there is more to a Soyuz than just the Re-Entry Module. It is actually a three section spacecraft, two of these sections can be accessed during flight by the crew.
During launch and descent, the crew members are crammed into the Descent Module. Once in orbit, they can also use the Orbital Module.
Problems with the new Soyuz pad at Vostochy - cavities have formed in the ground under the pad
http://tass.com/science/1020705
http://tass.com/science/1020705
Launch in a short while of two crew members to the space station. Flying only two on a Soyuz is quite rare these days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8d9CqS2cvc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8d9CqS2cvc
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1050315108721...
Doesn't look like much fun.
Glad to hear it sounds like everyone is OK.
Doesn't look like much fun.
Glad to hear it sounds like everyone is OK.
Had to go out this morning so couldn't follow the events as closely as I would have liked to. There was obviously a booster malfunction just at the moment the strap on boosters are discarded. From the on board footage you could see there was a problem straight away as these was some sort of "pogo effect" apparent i.e. the crew were being pushed backwards and forwards in their seats - which normally doesn't happen.
This is a serious event. The last time a Soyuz had to abort during ascent was way back in 1975.
And, there will have to be a major investigation into what happens - which means there will be nobody flying to the ISS for quite a while.
Glad to hear that both crew men are OK.
This is a serious event. The last time a Soyuz had to abort during ascent was way back in 1975.
And, there will have to be a major investigation into what happens - which means there will be nobody flying to the ISS for quite a while.
Glad to hear that both crew men are OK.
Could we see the ISS left untended for the first time in 18 years ?
The Soyuz currently at the ISS was launched at the beginning of June, so will be coming to the end of its orbital lifespan at the the beginning of December. If safety concerns prevent a new launch in that timeframe then they will have to return and leave the ISS unmanned
Two options I can see to maintain operations:
a) They figure out the cause of today's incident and resume manned flights quickly
b) To avoid risking a crew, send an unmanned Soyuz to the ISS and extend the stay of the current crew
The Soyuz currently at the ISS was launched at the beginning of June, so will be coming to the end of its orbital lifespan at the the beginning of December. If safety concerns prevent a new launch in that timeframe then they will have to return and leave the ISS unmanned
Two options I can see to maintain operations:
a) They figure out the cause of today's incident and resume manned flights quickly
b) To avoid risking a crew, send an unmanned Soyuz to the ISS and extend the stay of the current crew
Well, it knocks the calendar of future flights for six for a start. It all depends on how long it takes to find out what went wrong and then working out how to fix the problem.
Video of the footage is here. The failure occurs about 130 seconds after lift off. If you look at the way the boosters are tumbling back there does seem to be other stuff falling back besides the four strap ons. It certainly does not look as "neat" as a normal booster separation (often referred to as "Korolev's Cross") I wonder if the first stage actually exploded as the boosters separated?
At the moment of booster separation the internal view of the spacecraft shows a significant pogo effect and some picture breakup. This is a major failure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0l5QBmqQoI
Video of the footage is here. The failure occurs about 130 seconds after lift off. If you look at the way the boosters are tumbling back there does seem to be other stuff falling back besides the four strap ons. It certainly does not look as "neat" as a normal booster separation (often referred to as "Korolev's Cross") I wonder if the first stage actually exploded as the boosters separated?
At the moment of booster separation the internal view of the spacecraft shows a significant pogo effect and some picture breakup. This is a major failure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0l5QBmqQoI
Genuine pogo I would think caused by one or all of the core stage rocket engines (it has eight of them) misfiring (or even exploding).
Watch the behaviour of the toy dangling on a string. All Soyuz launches feature these toys as they are actually a good and simple indicator as to whether positive or negative Gs are being applied. They aren't there just for fun.
Watch the behaviour of the toy dangling on a string. All Soyuz launches feature these toys as they are actually a good and simple indicator as to whether positive or negative Gs are being applied. They aren't there just for fun.
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