Do the Russians really know . . .

[Wheel-Nut]

what they are doing?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24243569/

[Andrew Longman]

I took the kids to the Franklin Institute Monday and saw the ISS IMAX film.

Friggin' Awesome.

But one thing that struck me was the differences in the Russian space program.

Star City was run down with crumbling sidewalks

The hatch to the Soyuz was noticeably dented

The crew was escorted to the launch pad by family members and an assorted mob of workers and hanger-ons. I expected to see a vodka bottle being passed around.

And photographers looked to be standing about 1/4 mile from the launch pad at lift off (not the 3 miles they have to do at the Cape)

The whole program had a sort of Russian Cheech and Chong feel to it.

[Napoleon]

The whole program had a sort of Russian Cheech and Chong feel to it.

Who go by "Ivan and Sergei"

[dando]

And we're tied to the Soyuz after '10. :( :saywhat:

I did some looking around and ended up in a Wikihole on some space stuff. Interesting list of problems that almost resulted in fatalities:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_accidents_and_incidents#Near-fatalities

:eek:

-Kevin

[Ankf00]

The crew was escorted to the launch pad by family members and an assorted mob of workers and hanger-ons. I expected to see a vodka bottle being passed around.


truth is stranger than fiction

[Gnam]

The fact that capsule is equiped with survival gear, including a triple barrel shotgun to scare away wolves, has always summed up the Russian space program for me.

[Napoleon]

The fact that capsule is equiped with survival gear, including a triple barrel shotgun to scare away wolves, has always summed up the Russian space program for me.

Not to defend the Russians here, of course the reason they have the shotgun is that they land on land, where as the US before the Shuttle was in water, which is a better comparison to the Russians since it does not use the glide method of re-entry. Didn't the US have some re-entries back in the day that were really far off (and even then, it would seem a whole lot easier to track and find them went they are over a whole bunch of nothingness of water). I seem to recall on one occasion they came close to loosing the US astronauts to drowning or something like that while they awaited rescue (or am I confusing the Planet of the Apes movie with the US space program).

[dando]

I seem to recall on one occasion they came close to loosing the US astronauts to drowning or something like that while they awaited rescue (or am I confusing the Planet of the Apes movie with the US space program).

Gus Grissom


Grissom was pilot of Mercury-Redstone 4, popularly known as Liberty Bell 7, the second American (suborbital) spaceflight. After splashdown explosive bolts blew the hatch off unexpectedly and water flooded into the tiny capsule. Grissom exited through the open hatch and into the ocean but nearly drowned as water filled his flightsuit whilst a helicopter tried to lift and recover the spacecraft. However, the capsule had become too heavy with water and sank. Grissom strongly asserted he had done nothing to blow the hatch and NASA officials eventually agreed with him. Initiating the explosive egress system required hitting a metal trigger with the side of a closed fist. This was later shown to leave a big bruise but Grissom did not have one. The capsule was recovered in 1999 but no evidence was found which could explain how the hatch opened on its own. Years after, Guenter Wendt (who was pad leader for the early American manned space launches) wrote he believed a small cover over the external release actuator was accidentally lost sometime during the flight or splashdown and the T-handle may have been tugged by a stray parachute shroud line, or was perhaps damaged by the heat of re-entry, cooled upon splashdown, contracted and then fired.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Grissom

RIP, Gus. :(

-Kevin

[G.]

Gus Grissom


Grissom was pilot of Mercury-Redstone 4, popularly known as Liberty Bell 7, the second American (suborbital) spaceflight. After splashdown explosive bolts blew the hatch off unexpectedly and water flooded into the tiny capsule. Grissom exited through the open hatch and into the ocean but nearly drowned as water filled his flightsuit whilst a helicopter tried to lift and recover the spacecraft. However, the capsule had become too heavy with water and sank. Grissom strongly asserted he had done nothing to blow the hatch and NASA officials eventually agreed with him. Initiating the explosive egress system required hitting a metal trigger with the side of a closed fist. This was later shown to leave a big bruise but Grissom did not have one. The capsule was recovered in 1999 but no evidence was found which could explain how the hatch opened on its own. Years after, Guenter Wendt (who was pad leader for the early American manned space launches) wrote he believed a small cover over the external release actuator was accidentally lost sometime during the flight or splashdown and the T-handle may have been tugged by a stray parachute shroud line, or was perhaps damaged by the heat of re-entry, cooled upon splashdown, contracted and then fired.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Grissom

RIP, Gus. :(

-Kevin

Wait... in the movie he panicked.

Hollywood, wikipedia
Wikipedia, Hollywood.:confused::confused:

[Andrew Longman]

Grissom didn't land way off the mark, he just lost the capsule, perhaps through his actions.

I'd have to search but yes, IIRC there were a few splashdowns that happened way off course, but the Navy spread out enough ships to find them pretty quickly.
As for the Russian send offs, the scene in the ISS IMAX reminded me of trying to escape from a visit to my Greek relatives... :D

"No, we really need to go".

"Oh, just one more picture. And take some cake with you. You're so skinny!!!"

"OK, but I have to get in the car"

Sure, but did you take enough spanikopita? You need some more"

"Kids, don't go back in the house. Get in the car!"

[indyfan31]

... you have Greek relatives? can they make me some more Tatziki and Cherry Brandy?

[Andrew Longman]

... you have Greek relatives? can they make me some more Tatziki and Cherry Brandy?

This Anglo actually makes the best Tatziki and Dolmades in the family. At least my Greek wife, who taught me, says so. ;)

[Indy]

Who go by "Ivan and Sergei"

Vladimir's not here, man.

[Michaelhatesfans]

I once met some exchange students who studied aeronautical engineering in the Soviet Union. I suggested that perhaps that was not the best place to learn that particular trade, but then they pointed out that the initial design is actually fantastic. In fact it has to be, because there is virtually no maintenance or upkeep once it leave the factory. The idea of a comfortable, smooth, or even predictable flight was a distant concern in Soviet design principles. They were basically learning to build flying T-72's. It was an interesting point.

That point was reinforced with me when I flew Aeroflot for the first time - particularly as I staggered from the plane gasping for fresh air, looking over to see if any of the tires had blown, and praying that my ears would finish popping after our pilot approached Kiev Borispol like a freaking Stuka pilot.

[anait]

Anyone else read this?

Dragonfly: An Epic Adventure of Survival in Outer Space (http://www.amazon.com/Dragonfly-Adventure-Survival-Outer-Space/dp/0060932694)

http://z.about.com/d/space/1/G/a/5/grdragonfly.jpg