Space station could be temporarily abandoned in November

[Torplexed]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp28/110827unmannedops/

HOUSTON -- Astronauts may need to temporarily withdraw from the International Space Station before the end of this year if Russia is unable to resume manned flights of its Soyuz rocket after a failed cargo launch last week, according to the NASA official in charge of the outpost.
Welcome to the 21st century when we were supposed to have thousands of people living on orbit. Welcome to the 21st century when we were supposed to have regular missions to asteroids, Moon and Mars... and we can't even keep a permanent presence on artificial island 300kms above our heads...

The future ain't what it used to be. :down:

[FIREWALL]

I wouldn't be so harsh with either side. That's alot of Software and Hardware to make everything happen in an instant at the same time a World apart.

Get them home and look this Over a lot more Closely with a little less Secrecy

[Torplexed]

The first article mentioned the possibility of delaying the Soyuz September 22 launch. Well; now it's official.

Russia postpones new manned space station mission

http://us.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/29/russia.space.station/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Alexei Krasnov of the space agency, Roscosmos, said the next manned mission, originally planned to launch on September 22, now would occur in late October or early November, according to the RIA Novosti report.That still leaves the possibility of not abandoning the International Space Station open, but does cast a shade more doubt.

[razark]

... and we can't even keep a permanent presence on artificial island 300kms above our heads...
If only we had some sort of vehicle that could have reached it, and carried the needed supplies...

[Torplexed]

If only we had some sort of vehicle that could have reached it, and carried the needed supplies...

Yeaaah. Something reusable with delta wings and a retractable arm and generous cargo capacity.

Nah. That was our old future. :D

[razark]

Yeaaah. Something reusable with delta wings and a retractable arm and generous cargo capacity.

Nah. That was our old future. :D
We should have maintained the capability to launch at least one until we had something besides the Soyuz ready to step in if needed. Single point of failure, etc.

[TLAM Strike]

Yeaaah. Something reusable with delta wings and a retractable arm and generous cargo capacity.

Nah. That was our old future. :D
Reusable: Check
Delta Wings: Check
Retractable Arm: Check
Generous Cargo Capacity: Double Check! :yeah:

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/7545/buran.jpg

Yea that future would have been awesome... :hmmm:

[Torplexed]

Yea that future would have been awesome... :hmmm:

Well, I hope the retired US shuttles can avoid the former Soviet Union's one fate of being buried and destroyed under tons of rubble in a cosmodrome due to an earthquake. That was a sad end. :cry:

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/spacecraft/buran/buran-wreckage2.jpg

[razark]

Reusable: Check
You sure about that?

Orbiter, only used once. Needs new paint. Includes hangar:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=442&pictureid=4815


Edit:
*muttering something about Torplexed not having to download and resize his picture*

[TLAM Strike]

You sure about that?

Yep, she was used twice. 1st as a spacecraft... and 2nd to hold up the roof of an old hanger...

That's Russian versatility comrade! :yeah:

[Anthony W.]

I just have a feeling we could strap a Russian space pod to a Delta rocket or something like that.

But no, Komrade, circle pod too advanced to let Amerikanski's use in place of space plane.

[August]

This reminds me of a documentary I watched awhile ago about the Dark Ages and how discouraging it must have been to see crumbling Roman ruins like aqua ducts and not even have the skill to keep them in repair, let alone build more.

How are they planning to get the present space station crew back down if the Russians can't fix Soyuz?

[Torplexed]

This reminds me of a documentary I watched awhile ago about the Dark Ages and how discouraging it must have been to see crumbling Roman ruins like aqua ducts and not even have the skill to keep them in repair, let alone build more.

How are they planning to get the present space station crew back down if the Russians can't fix Soyuz?

There are presently two Soyuz craft docked with the ISS for crew departure purposes. However, they have a limited time they can remain safely rated for use in space due to an expiration date of 200 days. Beyond that the type of fuel (hydrogen peroxide I think?) they use begins to deteriorate.

[papa_smurf]

Well, if the European Space Agency get moving and get the manned version of the ATV built, then there would be less reliance on the Russians, and it would give NASA more time to get a new orbiter/launch craft built.

[Anthony W.]

and it would give NASA more time to get a new orbiter/launch craft built.

Lol with what funding?

NASA has more experience with large payload and manned launches than anyone else. The ESA and Russia should be paying THEM to build a new craft.

[danasan]

Lol with what funding?

NASA has more experience with large payload and manned launches than anyone else. The ESA and Russia should be paying THEM to build a new craft.

Maybe get Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun cloned and see what he could do in that situation

[Blood_splat]

Kind of related to the topic.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKdaRcptVz8

[Anthony W.]

Didn't we have plans to setup staging between an SRB and 2 liquid boosters that could get a capsule into orbit? Aires and Orion, I believe...

And of course there was the SDHLV Shuttle Derived Heavy Launch Vehicle - which could've also gotten a capsule up there

[MothBalls]

If only we had some sort of vehicle that could have reached it, and carried the needed supplies...
Maybe we could get all those banks that got TARP money to loan us some back so we could continue to fund our space programs...... and education..... and public safety services.... and medical care for our elders...... naw, we need to buy more weapons and warships.