Post 481723 by sebastian@chaos.social
(DIR) More posts by sebastian@chaos.social
(DIR) Post #481711 by sebastian@chaos.social
2018-10-11T11:56:17Z
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So as you might have heard something went wrong during the #SoyuzMS10 launch today. There was a malfunction during booster separation. The crew was able to use the launch escape system to get to safely back to ground. This was the first malfunction of this magnitude since 1983 (Sojus T-10-1) and the first malfunction directly during launch since 1975 (Sojus 18a).
(DIR) Post #481717 by sebastian@chaos.social
2018-10-11T12:00:57Z
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So what does this mean for science in space?Well first of all while there are alternative vehicles that can deliver cargo to the ISS, there is currently no other crew-rate vehicle besides the Sojus. Due to the investigations about the recent problems (today's malfunction and the mysterious hole that was discovered a few weeks back) it is uncertain when the next Sojus will be allowed to launch.
(DIR) Post #481719 by sebastian@chaos.social
2018-10-11T12:05:44Z
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This means we can supply the astronauts on the ISS and we can get them home via the Sojus capsules still attached to the ISS, it is not possible to send a new crew to the station.This a will be a serious problem. Not only will it end the longest period continuous of human presence in space, it will also put various science programs to an indefinite halt.
(DIR) Post #481723 by sebastian@chaos.social
2018-10-11T12:10:37Z
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There are experiments, which will not be installed on the ISS, experiments which will no longer be maintained by a crew and other experiments which were scheduled to return to earth requiring a human to remove and pack them.Similarly there are cubesats schedules to be deployed from the ISS, which will have to look for different way into orbit now.