Soyuz

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Discussion

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
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MartG said:
Did you click on the wiki link ?
Didn't spot it. I will now smile

aclivity

4,072 posts

187 months

Monday 30th April 2018
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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"?

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Monday 30th April 2018
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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.




MartG

20,624 posts

203 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
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Problems with the new Soyuz pad at Vostochy - cavities have formed in the ground under the pad

http://tass.com/science/1020705

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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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

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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2 minutes to launch.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Are they aborting. Looks like they might have a booster problem.

Seti

1,921 posts

203 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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The last update suggests an abort? Ballistic descent mode?!?

SVX

2,182 posts

210 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Looks like it - "Ballistic Descent", I had goosebumps when I heard the alarm go off..

crmcatee

5,691 posts

226 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Oh since this has popped up Has anyone seen the Salyut 7 movie. I caught it on Amazon the other week. Great cinemaphotography and edge of the seat telling of what happened.

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1050315108721...

Doesn't look like much fun.

Glad to hear it sounds like everyone is OK.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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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.

ralphrj

3,508 posts

190 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Eric Mc said:
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.
I wonder how much of a problem that might be.

MartG

20,624 posts

203 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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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 frown

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

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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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

drdino

1,142 posts

141 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Is it a pogo effect or is it an issue with the video feed causing the last couple of seconds to be replayed in a loop?

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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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.

Kccv23highliftcam

1,783 posts

74 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Had to happen sometime; obviously glad crew got back ok.

Did it occur just after they jettisoned the escape system tractor?

Shame they have to do that.



Edited by Kccv23highliftcam on Thursday 11th October 13:03

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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It seemed a very long time between the engine failure being confirmed and them separating the orbital+descent module. Would have thought they'd want to get them off there as quickly as possible.