Molniya failure

[shoogerbrugge]

Already mentioned in a different post, but I thought to give this one its own thread.<br /><br />A Molniya M LV failed to deliver its payload today. 3rd stage failure, 6 minutes into flight. It seems to be a propulsion failure and the payload/LV debris chrashed into Tuymen region. The payload was a military communications satellite of the type Molinya 3K. Its the second failure of the LV Molinya M in 276 launches.<br /><br />The Soyuz and Molniya LV do share the first 3 stages, so it will be intresting to see what kind of result this will have on the 2 planned launches of the Soyuz from Baikonur, one with a commercial payload august the first and one progress flight to the ISS<br /><br />Updates will probebly be given on http://russianforces.org/eng/blog/<br /><br />cheers

 

[syndroma]

The crash site still not found. Search will continue tomorrow with more vehicles and people involved.<br />Finding it can help investigation a lot.

 

[wvbraun]

Question: If such a malfuntion occured during a manned Soyuz flight would this result in loss of crew?

 

[syndroma]

> Question: If such a malfuntion occured during a manned Soyuz flight would this result in loss of crew?<br /><br />No. Actually, Soyuz-18-1 experienced similiar problems with the third stage. The capsule separated from the booster at altitude about 160km and landed near the China border. Interesting fact about this flight - because of loss of orientation, the capsule entered atmosphere upside down and the crew experienced more than 20 g force.

 

[wvbraun]

20 g? Are you sure? I thought that would kill the crew...

 

[tom_hobbes]

Perhaps that sort of G might be tolerated for a moment or two... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#339966"> I wish I could remember<br /> But my selective memory<br /> Won't let me</font><font size="2" color="#99cc00"> </font><font size="3" color="#339966"><font size="2">- </font></font><font size="1" color="#339966">Mark Oliver Everett</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[najab]

><i>20 g? Are you sure? I thought that would kill the crew...</i><p>The custom designed seats and liners allow the crew to survive much higher G-loads than they otherwise could.</p>

 

[nacnud]

In the right orientation 40g has been endured without perminant injury, but it wasn't pleasent. I think it was during the rocket sled trials in the US.

 

[tom_hobbes]

What is the right orientation? Upside down, right side up, sideways? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#339966"> I wish I could remember<br /> But my selective memory<br /> Won't let me</font><font size="2" color="#99cc00"> </font><font size="3" color="#339966"><font size="2">- </font></font><font size="1" color="#339966">Mark Oliver Everett</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Same as during the re-entry soyuz, flat on your back, eyes in. However I think in the rocket sled experiment they also tested the eyes out position at 40g, the poor chaps retinas seporated <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" />

 

[nacnud]

The same experiment was the origin of Murphys Law.

 

[tom_hobbes]

Eye's in? Are they retractable? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#339966"> I wish I could remember<br /> But my selective memory<br /> Won't let me</font><font size="2" color="#99cc00"> </font><font size="3" color="#339966"><font size="2">- </font></font><font size="1" color="#339966">Mark Oliver Everett</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Snails (<font size="1">and slugs</font>) in S S S S P P P P P A A A A C C C C C E E E E E <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[tom_hobbes]

<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#339966"> I wish I could remember<br /> But my selective memory<br /> Won't let me</font><font size="2" color="#99cc00"> </font><font size="3" color="#339966"><font size="2">- </font></font><font size="1" color="#339966">Mark Oliver Everett</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[syndroma]

> <i>20 g? Are you sure? I thought that would kill the crew... </i><br /><br />Such G lasted for the very short period of time. For a moment, human body don't break, it just become springy.<br /><br />As for the capsule, Soyuz breaks up at 27 G.<br /><br /> /> <i>What is the right orientation?</i><br /><br />Soyuz has two modes of descending - controlled (max 4 G) and ballistic (max 9 G). During ballistic entry the capsule just spins up.<br />Soyuz TMA-1 (2003) descended in ballistic mode.<br />Soyuz-18-1 (1975) descended in counter-controlled mode, when capsule's aerodynamics not helped, but made things worse.

 

[wvbraun]

Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[tom_hobbes]

<font color="yellow">more than 100g</font><br /><br />Ouch! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#339966"> I wish I could remember<br /> But my selective memory<br /> Won't let me</font><font size="2" color="#99cc00"> </font><font size="3" color="#339966"><font size="2">- </font></font><font size="1" color="#339966">Mark Oliver Everett</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[ace5]

Soyuz 33 also endured a high g reentry<br />http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/1979.htm<br />http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/machines/s33.sht

 

[botch]

2 failures in 276 launches? Enviable record they've got there.<br />Speaking of escape towers, what's stopping us from using them for satelites aswell?

 

[wvbraun]

The acceleration would probably damage most satellites...

 

[syndroma]

Launches of Soyuz boosters are resumed. Good news for Galaxy-14 and ISS missions.<br /><br />Molnya vehicles are still grounded though.