OT: Rocket carrying space station crew fails in mid air, crew safe

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...-mid-air-crew-safe/ar-BBOdWcb?ocid=spartandhp

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Oct 11 (Reuters) - A booster rocket carrying a Soyuz spacecraft with a Russian and U.S. astronaut on board headed for the International Space Station failed mid-air on Thursday, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing.

The rocket was carrying U.S. astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin. Footage from inside the Soyuz showed the two men being shaken around at the moment the failure occurred, with their arms and legs flailing.

The rocket was launched from the Soviet-era cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. A Reuters reporter who observed the launch from around 1 km away said it had gone smoothly in its initial stages and that the failure of the booster rockets must have occurred at higher altitude.

Russian news agencies reported that the crew had safely made an emergency landing and were in radio contact and that rescuers were en route to pick them up.

https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive

 

[interrobang]

So glad the American space program was slashed so much that we have to rely on 1960s Russian technology to get to space.

 

[pandaczar12]

The rocket was carrying U.S. astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin. Footage from inside the Soyuz showed the two men being shaken around at the moment the failure occurred, with their arms and legs flailing.

Very glad to hear it, but not as glad as capitals fans!

 

[Carl Spackler]

Thought the same thing generally pandaczar. The cosmonaut was a hockey player?

 

[PS4814]

Going to piggyback on this story with the fact that Boeing has screwed the pooch on the SLS more than doubling the cost and delaying it by several years thus far.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/10...system-inspector-general-report-boeing-delays
"
Today, NASA’s inspector general, which performs periodic audits of the space agency’s programs, released a scathing report on the current status of the Space Launch System’s development — and things look bleak. The rocket, which has already suffered from numerous cost overruns and budget delays, is projected to cost billions of dollars more than expected. The vehicle also probably won’t be ready to fly by June 2020, the current target date for the rocket’s first launch.

The report blames many of the issues on Boeing, the main contractor of the SLS. Boeing has been struggling with the development of the SLS core stage — the main body of the rocket that contains the primary engines and most of the propellant. The first core stage, meant to be used on the SLS’s inaugural test flight, was supposed to be delivered in June of 2017. It’s now expected to be ready by December 2019, and chances are it will probably come even later than that. The inspector general argues that these delays can be blamed on “poor performance” on the part of Boeing. The company has consistently given bad estimates for how much work is required for the core stage, as well as how many people are needed to complete it, the report says."

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/11/europe/soyuz-rocket-russia-nasa-intl/index.html

 

[lionroar88]

So glad the American space program was slashed so much that we have to rely on 1960s Russian technology to get to space.

The Space Shuttle was early 1970s tech... think about that.

 

[lionroar88]

Going to piggyback on this story with the fact that Boeing has screwed the pooch on the SLS more than doubling the cost and delaying it by several years thus far.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/10...system-inspector-general-report-boeing-delays
"
Today, NASA’s inspector general, which performs periodic audits of the space agency’s programs, released a scathing report on the current status of the Space Launch System’s development — and things look bleak. The rocket, which has already suffered from numerous cost overruns and budget delays, is projected to cost billions of dollars more than expected. The vehicle also probably won’t be ready to fly by June 2020, the current target date for the rocket’s first launch.

The report blames many of the issues on Boeing, the main contractor of the SLS. Boeing has been struggling with the development of the SLS core stage — the main body of the rocket that contains the primary engines and most of the propellant. The first core stage, meant to be used on the SLS’s inaugural test flight, was supposed to be delivered in June of 2017. It’s now expected to be ready by December 2019, and chances are it will probably come even later than that. The inspector general argues that these delays can be blamed on “poor performance” on the part of Boeing. The company has consistently given bad estimates for how much work is required for the core stage, as well as how many people are needed to complete it, the report says."

I went to Huntsville, AL this past Summer and took the kids to Rocket City. That was an awesome experience! Got to see an erect replica of the Saturn V and the actual Saturn V in the building they constructed for it. The SLS is supposed to be a marriage of the Saturn V and solid rocket boosters from The Space Shuttle - updated with modern technology. To think what NASA did in the 50s and 60s to get us to the Moon and back, then The Space Shuttle program... and they can't get this done is just disgusting. Von Braun and Marshall would be fuming pissed.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

The Space Shuttle was early 1970s tech... think about that.

Yep. Incredible. On the surface, when you read about the Boeing issues, and the advantages they have with how far we've advanced technologically, you have to wonder what the f-(k is going on? Are we just getting dumber???

 

[eidolon21]

you need to understand the type of contract NASA has with Boeing. If Boeing makes a ton of money where success or failure doesn't matter but failure keeps the money rolling in forever... why succeed. Boeing riding the "Gravy Train".

 

[diontechristmas]

The Space Shuttle was early 1970s tech... think about that.

Very true.

The most awe inspiring aircraft ever produced, the SR-71, was made with early 60’s tech... unbelievable really.

 

[PS4814]

you need to understand the type of contract NASA has with Boeing. If Boeing makes a ton of money where success or failure doesn't matter but failure keeps the money rolling in forever... why succeed. Boeing riding the "Gravy Train".

Sounds like Donny needs to get in there and renegotiate that deal.

 

[Lion Lineage]

Going to piggyback on this story with the fact that Boeing has screwed the pooch on the SLS more than doubling the cost and delaying it by several years thus far.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/10...system-inspector-general-report-boeing-delays
"
Today, NASA’s inspector general, which performs periodic audits of the space agency’s programs, released a scathing report on the current status of the Space Launch System’s development — and things look bleak. The rocket, which has already suffered from numerous cost overruns and budget delays, is projected to cost billions of dollars more than expected. The vehicle also probably won’t be ready to fly by June 2020, the current target date for the rocket’s first launch.

The report blames many of the issues on Boeing, the main contractor of the SLS. Boeing has been struggling with the development of the SLS core stage — the main body of the rocket that contains the primary engines and most of the propellant. The first core stage, meant to be used on the SLS’s inaugural test flight, was supposed to be delivered in June of 2017. It’s now expected to be ready by December 2019, and chances are it will probably come even later than that. The inspector general argues that these delays can be blamed on “poor performance” on the part of Boeing. The company has consistently given bad estimates for how much work is required for the core stage, as well as how many people are needed to complete it, the report says."

It’s not just Boeing. Remember this boondoggle? And the planes still don’t work quite right.

F-35 jets: US military grounds entire fleet http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45827795

 

[kgilbert78]

Going to piggyback on this story with the fact that Boeing has screwed the pooch on the SLS more than doubling the cost and delaying it by several years thus far.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/10...system-inspector-general-report-boeing-delays
"
Today, NASA’s inspector general, which performs periodic audits of the space agency’s programs, released a scathing report on the current status of the Space Launch System’s development — and things look bleak. The rocket, which has already suffered from numerous cost overruns and budget delays, is projected to cost billions of dollars more than expected. The vehicle also probably won’t be ready to fly by June 2020, the current target date for the rocket’s first launch.

The report blames many of the issues on Boeing, the main contractor of the SLS. Boeing has been struggling with the development of the SLS core stage — the main body of the rocket that contains the primary engines and most of the propellant. The first core stage, meant to be used on the SLS’s inaugural test flight, was supposed to be delivered in June of 2017. It’s now expected to be ready by December 2019, and chances are it will probably come even later than that. The inspector general argues that these delays can be blamed on “poor performance” on the part of Boeing. The company has consistently given bad estimates for how much work is required for the core stage, as well as how many people are needed to complete it, the report says."

Which is why I'm glad there's Space X. "Competition is good. Darwin thought well of it."--RAH

 

[kgilbert78]

The Space Shuttle was early 1970s tech... think about that.

Actually older in many ways, due to the time it took to develop it.

 

[rumble_lion]

you need to understand the type of contract NASA has with Boeing. If Boeing makes a ton of money where success or failure doesn't matter but failure keeps the money rolling in forever... why succeed. Boeing riding the "Gravy Train".

It's a feature not a bug.

Not entirely Boeings fault, Congress has split the production up among dozens of congressional districts to "spread the wealth" around and get congress critters to support it. And they don't really care how long it takes or how much it costs.

 

[rumble_lion]

Which is why I'm glad there's Space X. "Competition is good. Darwin thought well of it."--RAH

Good chance Spacex's rocket will be flying before the SLS does. It may relegate the SLS to plan b - backup rocket.

 

[kgilbert78]

Good chance Spacex's rocket will be flying before the SLS does. It may relegate the SLS to plan b - backup rocket.

Fine by me. May the best rocket win.

 

[Phoenix lion]

Very true.

The most awe inspiring aircraft ever produced, the SR-71, was made ec.. unbelievable really.

Actually 50's technology. They were in service and flying out

Very true.

The most awe inspiring aircraft ever produced, the SR-71, was made with early 60’s tech... unbelievable really.

Actually 50's technology. They were flying in the early sixties. As a Navy pilot in Vietnam in 1965 I watched the SR-71s take off regularly from Kadena AFB in Okinawa.

 

[interrobang]

Yep. Incredible. On the surface, when you read about the Boeing issues, and the advantages they have with how far we've advanced technologically, you have to wonder what the f-(k is going on? Are we just getting dumber???

You can only do so much with aerodynamics. The focus now is making stuff smarter, lighter, more fuel efficient all while spending less (hah!) to do it. Aviation is kind of stuck where it is until some new engine technology allows economical (and quiet) supersonic speed

 

[Cabinpenn]

You can only do so much with aerodynamics. The focus now is making stuff smarter, lighter, more fuel efficient all while spending less (hah!) to do it. Aviation is kind of stuck where it is until some new engine technology allows economical (and quiet) supersonic speed

Only stuck until they recover the next alien wreckage and complete their reverse engineering!

 

[Lion Lineage]

Only stuck until they recover the next alien wreckage and complete their reverse engineering!

True dat:

 

[interrobang]

And it was some greenhorn engineer who figured out what to do to save the mission.

 

[phillybillyreprise]

I read Endurance by Scott Kelly last year. He describes in detail the status of the Russian space program. It is very outdated but is functioning.

 

[rumble_lion]

I read Endurance by Scott Kelly last year. He describes in detail the status of the Russian space program. It is very outdated but is functioning.

It sure is.

United Launch Alliance(the merger of Boeing Space and Lockheed Martin Space) get paid quite well by the government. Even worse they buy Russian engines for their rockets!

Launch prices used to be discussed in vague terms until the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act required the Department of Defense to include a budget for national security space programs in its annual reports. Now, the Air Force's budget request (PDF) for the next few years, which Ars Technica got its hands on, finally has solid numbers we can look at: It shows that the division expects to pay as much as $423 million per launch by the year 2021 if it allows ULA -- a Boeing and Lockheed joint venture -- to have a monopoly on its launches.

The expected ULA launch prices for 2018 and 2019 are much lower at $202 million and $216 million, respectively. However, those amounts are still more than double the $83 million and the $96.5 million the Air Force is paying SpaceX to launch GPS satellites those fiscal years. SpaceX might raise its prices for 2020 and beyond, but it most likely won't cost as much as $400 million for one launch.​