The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with a Soyuz TMA-04M spaceship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off from the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan, Tuesday, May 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)
KOROLYOV, Russia, May 15 (Reuters) - A Soyuz spaceship carrying two Russians and one American astronaut blasted off for the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday after more than a month's delay over a problem with the hull of the Russian-built capsule. NASA astronaut Joseph Acaba, veteran cosmonaut Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin, who is departing on his maiden space flight, launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-04M rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 0301 GMT. The flight was delayed from March 30 to allow Russia's partly state-owned space contractor, RKK Energia, to prepare a new capsule for launch after an accident during pressure tests damaged the Soyuz crew capsule. Moscow hopes a smooth mission will begin to restore confidence in its once-pioneering space programme after a string of launch mishaps last year. (Reporting by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya; Editing by Robin Paxton and Sandra Maler)
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(Adds details, background) By Nastassia Astrasheuskaya KOROLYOV, Russia, May 15 (Reuters) - A Soyuz spaceship carrying two Russians and one American astronaut blasted of...
(Adds details, background) By Nastassia Astrasheuskaya KOROLYOV, Russia, May 15 (Reuters) - A Soyuz spaceship carrying two Russians and one American astronaut blasted of...
And by licensing the design of that pen for commercial sale, they in turn MADE a fortune! I had a Fisher Space Pen when I was in grade school, and so did may of my friends. You can make a lot of cash selling $30 a piece pens to people, just so they can say they're using the same pen as an astronaut. Welcome to Capitalism, the only religion I've ever believed in.
cyberob856: And by licensing the design of that pen for commercial
Different countries working together to explore space! End of the cold war has been bad for James Bond movies, but good for our planet. Imagine the cultural possibilities. One day we are going to have malls on the moon with food courts featuring menus from many different nations. That day is coming.
Minhaj Arifin www.HiThereNews.com
Author of 'How Desis Became The Greatest Nation On Earth.'
hitherenews: Different countries working together to explore space! End of the
I doubt these missions have anything to do with bridging two countries. It was the only way to send US astronauts to the ISS, I can't really think of any other nation with an established space program. Although a good side effect of these missions will be better space collaboration, they are also very costly.
dodgerangel: I doubt these missions have anything to do with bridging
Do you remember that scene from Space Odyssey 2010, when the Russians wake up Dr. Floyd from hibernation in the space ship? They all have a meeting in which Dr. Floyd is the only American surrounded by Russians. The Russian cosmonaut Captain Tanya Kirbuk keeps bringing up earthly politics. She complains about rising tensions between the US and the Soviet Union in Central America. And here they are in a space ship near Jupiter! Dr. Floyd keeps ignoring her and remains focused on the task ahead talking about ice and chlorophyll but she keeps talking earthly politics. Floyd finally confronts her with these lines:
"listen just because our governments behave like asses doesn't mean that we have to...we are supposed to be scientists..."
Captain Tanya responds with some earthly passion: "Dr. Floyd I am also an officer of the Soviet Air force!"
I always loved that scene. The contrast between the stunning possibilities of space travel and the pettiness of earthly politics.
hitherenews: Do you remember that scene from Space Odyssey 2010, when
There are certainly no bells and whistles in the Russian space program. They just get the job done. Where is the multi-billion dollar launch pad? Where's the billion dollar crew transport vehicle? It looks like our astronaut is carrying a set of barbells to the launch pad.
That's why we have no space program. It was over engineered.
PrimoPablo: There are certainly no bells and whistles in the Russian
The new Soyuz launch complex in French Guiana (South America) cost between $250M and $400M depending on how you do the accounting.
NASA's famous Astrovan is a modified Airstream motorhome.
The "suitcase" device is a small water chiller which hooks into the water-cooled garment which the crew wears under their Sokol pressure suits. Since the suits are obviously air-tight, they don't allow body heat to escape. Once on board, they plug into the Soyuz chilled water loop.
In the Shuttle program, there were chilled water outlets in the Operations & Checkout Building where the crew suits up, in the Astrovan on the way out to the pad, and on the 195-foot level of the Fixed Service Structure right next to the Orbiter Access Arm so that the crew could stay cool while waiting to board the Shuttle.
Of course, NASA's traditional contractors (e.g. United Space Alliance, P&W Rocketdyne, ATK, etc.) aren't the most cost-effective in the world. It cost NASA about $550M to procure an umbilical tower for the Ares I rocket, which is now cancelled. For about the same price, SpaceX developed five brand-new rocket engines, two brand-new launch vehicles, two new launch pads, and a brand-new reusable transport spacecraft -- plus four consecutive successful test flights!
jsarets: The new Soyuz launch complex in French Guiana (South America)
While I think it's a bit of a stretch to claim that "we have no space program" (we still are doing lots of great things in space), I do agree with the sentiment that it is too often over-engineered and not designed to be more cost effective with lots of one-off spacecraft and too many overpriced sole source contracts (especially for launch services). This is why commercial ventures such as SpaceX (which do a basic job at a fraction of the price) are so exciting.
I understand the irony, but I still think it's awesome that they are doing this. I watched the lead-up to launch video and it gave me chills. Way to go, human beings! Best wishes to the crew!
jane_doe75: I understand the irony, but I still think it's awesome
I'm pleasantly surprised to see so many references to The Big Bang Theory's Howard (FruitLoops) Wolowitz.Seeing how last week's show was about him going to the ISS on a Soyuz rocket.Life imitating Art?
sinnerG7: I'm pleasantly surprised to see so many references to The
I'm really glad to see the nations working together.
It's a shame the Shuttle was so costly, it seemed like such a good idea to have a reusable vehicle. Perhaps, in the long run, since the vehicle didn't have to be replaced, it did save significantly, but the loss of two shuttles with their crew really hurt us hard... Travelling into space is just so filled with dangers, perhaps we're lucky we've been able to do it at all!
The space program has brought us all so much technology and has forced us to be our best in so many ways. It should be kept alive, in spite of all the nay-sayers.
castlerider: I'm really glad to see the nations working together. It's
Ignorance is a sad thing! The US has a space program. As I said in another post so I will repeat again....
What is sad is the attitudes American's have about space tech. It's not about one nation it's about the human race. Humanity will never get out of low Earth Orbit without the co-operation of all Space going nations.
The US space program is a partnership with the Russian Space program. The Russian program has always been in the lead when it comes to man space flight.
They are the leaders in Space Station Flight (MIR) now ISS.
Their Rockets have always had more Lift capability per-dollar per-ton.
The US is now work on a program that is modeled off of the Russian program.
Do it smarter... do is cheaper!
Humanity works best when we co-operate. Leading in a science is for the immature chest beater!
PotholesInMyLawn: Ignorance is a sad thing! The US has a space
Space flight well be very expensive tell we start using non-chemical propulsion. Russia and china are not as phobic about nuclear reactors so I think the US is not going to be on the forefront of space exploration much longer. We will just outsource the heavy lifting along with our relevancy.
Crushedknee: Space flight well be very expensive tell we start using
What a sad day for The United States of America. Hitching rides from the Russians into Space.
Those oil and farm subsides were just too important.
The American new Mantra should be: Profit before People... Always...
NASA's estimated budget last year was 17 Billion.
This country spends on average about 75 Billion a year just in 'wasted' spending. (Mistakes, paying wrong people, fraud).
We spend 15 Billion a year paying farmers to grow wheat and corn.
We spend 10 Billion a year paying Big Oil to... Well, I honestly don't know what we're paying them for. I don't think anyone does...
We can waste all that money, but we can't find 20 Billion a year to fund a space program that used to be the envy of the entire planet?
Feel free to throw up a little bit in your mouth... I know I did...
Jarhead_Vet: What a sad day for The United States of America.
Ironic that the broken capitalist state has to rely on the broken socialist state for its space program, because of faulty and moronic conservative ideology.
nfatt1: Ironic that the broken capitalist state has to rely on
Ummm are you serious? The Russians are and have always been the leaders in human space flight. So the whole hitching a ride thing is silly. If you are going to do it.. why not do it with the best in the biz!
As for spending... well NASA (And I love aerospace so this is no bash...it's just fact) spent and wasted lots of money on the STS Program. The shuttle program was nothing but a huge cost overrun. This is well known.
The shuttle per-pound per-dollar could not come close to the lift capability of that of the Energia rockets fielded by CCCP and now Russia.
The reason the US has no human lift capability at this time was all do to the lie that the had the best program in town. And there lies the problem. The Shuttle was not the best project in town. Yes it lead in the reusable space vehicle sector since the US was the only nation doing it. But the cost ate up the budget.
Now the US is following the Russian's lead with a return capsuled rockets. Tried and true. Much more lift capabilities, much safer compared to the shuttle.
What is sad is the attitudes American's have about space tech. It's not about one nation it's about the human race. Humanity will never get out of low Earth Orbit without the co-operation of all Space going nations.
PotholesInMyLawn: Ummm are you serious? The Russians are and have always
Russia and the USSR before them tried to land on Mars 14 times... yet to succeed.
Russians have always hidden their failures and were better at gaming the game than actually accomplishing much.
W's smaller, cheaper and faster has failed.
crankyCrackPot: Russia and the USSR before them tried to land on
Too bad the U.S. is no longer funding space travel. I can almost see it. An American astronaut standing near the Russian launch with a thumb out: "Hey, buddy! Can I catch a lift?"
fjpoblam: Too bad the U.S. is no longer funding space travel.
Did you know that the Space Shuttle handled a minority (less than 30%) of the International Space Station crew transport? Since NASA astronaut Bill Shepherd boarded a Soyuz and took command of ISS Expedition 1, Soyuz has been the predominant mode of crew transport.
The big problem with the Space Shuttle is that it is powered by fuel cells, and it can only stay on orbit for about 12-14 days before it runs out of power. So it has to drop off the crew and return to Earth, leaving the crew no means of early return in case of emergency until the next Shuttle arrives.
The Columbia disaster left three astronauts stranded at the ISS. Russia sent a Soyuz to bring them home and took over all ISS logistics for the next three years while the Shuttle fleet was grounded.
jsarets: Did you know that the Space Shuttle handled a minority
Is there something new to be learned worthy of the extraordinary expense? We've been wasting fuel sending rockets into space for 50 years. All we've got out of it is satellite tv beaming down news "with a conservative spin" processed for us by the guy who owns National Enquirer.
And a few pretty pictures.
And the possible location of the rich mans next home after he gets done making earth uninhabitable.
And guess who pays for that rocket and that fuel burning at the bottom? You got it. You..and me.
And guess who gets paid for that rocket and that fuel. You got it. The rich guy.
Those who want to go to space should pay to go to space.
Its not like taxpayers can afford it.
Saudi Kings can afford it but they don't spend much on anything except American Jet Fighter Bombers. 90 Billion last year. Maybe we can get the Saudis to fund our space program and pick up our 15 trillion dollar debt.
Mr_earl: Is there something new to be learned worthy of the
There has been a huge economic and life-saving benefit from GPS, GIS, broadcast and communications, emergency beacons and weather forecasting. None of it needed boots in space, but launchers are very economic.
You think solid gold bathroom fixtures and Trump-cast-off Ukrainian hookers are cheap? It's a tough life in the Saudi royal family.
ThinkCreeps: There has been a huge economic and life-saving benefit from
NASA is less than 0.4% of the federal budget, and fuel represents well under 1% of the cost of spaceflight. Most of the cost is labor. The aerospace industry is almost entirely middle-class jobs, with hardly anybody making less than $50K or more than $200K.
jsarets: NASA is less than 0.4% of the federal budget, and
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Reuters | Posted: 05/14/2012 11:11 pm Updated: 05/15/2012 10:16 am