Soyuz rescue mission underway for Discovery astronauts?

[spacefire]

I heard some rumors, is there some truth to them, despite NASAs assurances?<br />anybody from Russia here that might know? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[ehs40]

no there is no need for a rescue from russia to rescue our astronauts discovery will make it home because there is no serious damage that could pose a risk to the orbiter

 

[lunatio_gordin]

Besides, they said they Could rescue them, not that they would.

 

[frodo1008]

Of one thing I am certain, that if such a thing were truly being contemplated, the bulldog press would have sprayed it all over the place by now!!

 

[najab]

><i>...is there some truth to them...</i><p>No. Russia does not have <b>two</b> Soyuz's sitting down, ready to launch. They have to build them, one at a time and it takes about 4-6 months to get one ready.</p>

 

[frodo1008]

Then the only way to bring all seven astronauts back down would be with the shuttle Atlantis. Now THAT would certianly shake up NASA now, wouildn't it!

 

[racer7]

The hysteria over STS-114 is really getting old. People aren't even thinking any more. I'm far from an expert. I normally just read a few threads and listen to others, but consider the OP for a minute. <br /><br />First, NASA has been very open about this flight. Almost too open it seems. Why would they lie if there was a serious problem? It would just create a worse public relations nightmare.<br /><br />Next, NASA has continued to state that STS-300 would still be on if needed for rescue, not Soyuz. It's the press and the critics that keep saying "grounded". <br /><br />Also consider that Discovery just put seven astronauts in orbit. The Soyuz holds three. I seem to remember that the Soyuz needs one trained pilot to launch. That means it would take four Soyuz missions to get all of the Discovery crew back to earth. Does anyone really think that kind of preparation could be kept quiet? <br /><br />Remember Occam's Razor which put simply says, "the simplest explanation is the best."<br /><br />The simple explanation at the moment is that Discovery is not seriously damaged and is going to land in about 10 days. <br /><br />

 

[frodo1008]

Forgot to add this at the time I made my other reply. What would then be a VERY good idea (to me at least) would be to have congress eliminate the incredibly short sighted and stupid restrictions on the purchase of Russian equipment! Personally, these restrictions don't even slow down the Russians on selling nuclear technology to places like Iran anyway! All they are doing is stoping our own people from buying some of the least expensive and best space equipment manufactured anywhere on Earth. As an American taxpayer and space enthusiast I OBJECT TO THIS CONTINUING STUPIDIY! I admit however, that it is just the kind of thing that I expect from congress.<br /><br />If these stupid restrictions were lifted then NASA could indeed purchase additional soyuz capsules to be available in case of emergency to the shuttle. This would even allow for a gradual shut down of the shuttle program over the next 5 years, without endangering the astronauts. There should then be at least three such capsules available to be launched to the ISS at any time!

 

[frodo1008]

Good post! My own were just for hypothetical reasons. The present people on boards the shuttle and the people on ISS have already done the first preliminary examination of DIscovery and nothing was seen that shouod prevent a perfect landing. Besides, 112 of 114 shuttles managed to survive these conditions, what are the odds that the 20 some flights left to the ISS won't?<br />I would be willing to bet the odds are quite good the rest of the shuttle flights could be made without major problems. <br /><br />Besides, if Columbus and the other great explorers who followed him had to deal with the current American press, we would still all be American Indians!!

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Good post Racer, you get it!

 

[john_316]

I think when the RSA proposed this I believe that there market value went up. But I do not see the use of a rescue attempt.<br /><br />I think the Russian's are just getting there time in the spot light. I think them coming out and saying this was to deferr talk away from the shuttle.<br /><br />Which is a good idea because we no there is a foam issue and that is the primary issue right now so we all need to stop venting and just move on and progress not regress.<br /><br />Lets hop new CEV designs are forth coming and what will be built is dicussed before the September report.<br /><br />We all have said our takes on this mission but we all need to realize that people are on the job as we speak trying to figure this problem out. I think STS can fly in September if they can fix the foam at least on the orbiter side.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[07171975]

More NASA people have beek killed on the Houston freeways going to and coming from work than have been killed in space or in training. We are too uptight about the dangers of flying into space. Life is fragile no matter where you live it.

 

[erioladastra]

Russia likes to talk a lot but doesn't actually walk the walk. There is no way the could rescue the Discovery crew. Since you need a Russian pilot that would leave only 2 seats available. Therefore you would need 4 Soyuz's. There is no human way even if they had the money to build those fast enough. Atlantis would be ready sooner.<br /><br />Agree that the Iran Non Proliferation act has been a disaster. In fact, as griffin pointed out - it and the ITAR rules are the best thing for foreign countries. Rather then buy technology from us or let us buy there stuff, they then develop it on their own. Thus they come out a head in the long run.

 

[gpurcell]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>More NASA people have beek killed on the Houston freeways going to and coming from work than have been killed in space or in training. We are too uptight about the dangers of flying into space. Life is fragile no matter where you live it.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Yeah, but they weren't killed in billion dollar Freeway Shuttles on $500 million missions to Galveston.

 

[cuddlyrocket]

Or on TV.

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Since you need a Russian pilot that would leave only 2 seats available. Therefore you would need 4 Soyuz's.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />They've been saying they could get three Soyuz up quickly enough (doubtful, in my opinion) although they might be suggesting stretching things with more Progress flights to keep them on ISS for longer (theoretically do-able, if they get NASA to pay for it). You make a very good point about needing 4, however. I wonder how they were planning on working that?<br /><br />I think I've got it:<br /><br />3 Soyuz are sent up, each with a Russian cosmonaut, over the next few months. Each brings back two crew. This leave ISS with its two ISS crewmen and one Shuttle crewman, restoring ISS to its three-man configuration. The seventh STS-114 astronaut becomes part of Expedition 11 and returns when they do. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[mooware]

<font color="yellow">Yeah, but they weren't killed in billion dollar Freeway Shuttles on $500 million missions to Galveston.</font><br /><br />Obviously you haven't seen the price of gas lately. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />

 

[mooware]

<font color="yellow">3 Soyuz are sent up, each with a Russian cosmonaut, over the next few months. Each brings back two crew. This leave ISS with its two ISS crewmen and one Shuttle crewman, restoring ISS to its three-man configuration. The seventh STS-114 astronaut becomes part of Expedition 11 and returns when they do</font><br /><br />Doesn't the shuttle have a cargo bay? Why not put some seats in the cargo bay and load everybody up and come back.. Well, once you fix the foam issue of course.<br /><br />

 

[spacefire]

can't they squeeze 4 people in the soyuz? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"can't they squeeze 4 people in the soyuz?"<br /><br />Only if one person has multiple personalities! They can barely squeze 3. I have been in one and it is TIGHT!

 

[spacefire]

come on, I'm sure some contingency plan to squeeze more peopls in the soyuz has been investigated it'd be only for re-entry anyway. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[najab]

><i>The payload bay isn't a survivable environment to ride in.</i><p>An astronaut in an EMU could ride down in the payload bay. That's actually the plan in the event that the payload bay doors fail to latch: an astronaut climbs inside the bay and manually latches the doors from the inside, and stays inside for the ride back down.</p>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

I bet that would be a freaky ride home. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[j05h]

>An astronaut in an EMU could ride down in the payload bay. That's actually the plan in the event that the payload bay doors fail to latch: an astronaut climbs inside the bay and manually latches the doors from the inside, and stays inside for the ride back down.<br /><br />Does he get a free diaper change on landing? That is the crazy stunt I've ever heard of. What would he hold/strap onto for descent? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[ehs40]

sounds like fun and crazy enough for me to try!