Posted on 02/05/2018 10:44:26 AM PST by BenLurkin
A record-setting Russian spacewalk ended with a critical antenna in the wrong position Friday outside the International Space Station.
NASA’s Mission Control reported that the antenna was still working. Nevertheless, Russian space officials were convening a special team to see whether further action would be necessary. The antenna is used for communications with Russia’s Mission Control outside Moscow.
The trouble arose toward the end of the more than 8-hour spacewalk — the longest ever by Russians and the fifth longest overall — after Commander Alexander Misurkin and Anton Shkaplerov successfully replaced an electronics box to upgrade the antenna.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Is the antenna circularly polarized?
“” ...The discarded electronics box will re-enter and burn up, too; Mission Control said it did not know when that will occur.””
‘Breaking news this morning, a spectacular fireball exploded over Moscow before dawn this morning shattering windows, setting off car alarms and a grand chorus of barking dogs.
The object was estimated to be about a meter in size.’
“Also, seems stupid to just toss trash out into space... especially electronics”
Or a Tesla Roadster.
Better yet: As the box is headed down — collies with a red Tesla headed up.
In non scientific terms it sounds as though it got stuck on something when they tried to extend it and now it’s facing the wrong direction.
8 hours, no breaks?
I can see that happening.
Some directional antennas have a fair sized lobe in the reverse direction....
Assuming they had been well-characterized prior to disposal.
I haven’t read that the Tesla roadster is actually going to leave the rocket’s payload and become space junk.. have you?
Why the hate? One of the way Musk is funding R and D for his space endeavors is to advertise his product in the process... capitalism at work..what’s the issue? and before you get on your high horse about his government subsidies..it’s only at about 6 percent and he is footing the rest himself. I for one am happy to see somebody interested in a space mission..NASA is a fully government funded entity... so I assume you want them to disappear as well?
From reading the article it sounds as though he just tossed it after disassembly, but perhaps they’ve replaced parts similar to this before.
Makes sense, sounds as if the Russians have no idea if it will work that way or not.
The trouble arose toward the end of the more than 8-hour spacewalk — the longest ever by Russians
= = =
Russian spacewalk -
Space walk, heel to toe, while touching your nose with your outstretched finger, and count backwards from 99 to zero.
We’ll see how far we get with this Project Orion or whatever it’s called, that looks a hell of a lot like the Apollo program.
—
Too bad it is not the original Project Orion ... just a cheap knock off of the Apollo capsule. Nothing will come of the US space program until political will is restored, but that has been gone since 1964 and it will be difficult to restore.
Cosmonauts blamed moose and squirrel
My hunch is many Americans don’t see much value in NASA or space exploration especially after Obama mothballed it for 8 years for “muslim outreach”
The cosmonauts got back to the space station after the walk and relaxed with their x box. But instead of the game they kept getting Moscow Ground Control....
My hunch is many Americans don’t see much value in NASA or space exploration especially after Obama mothballed it for 8 years for “muslim outreach”
—
No a hunch - a fact - there are many Freepers here who would love nothing more that to see NASA and SpaceX along with all the others just disappear.
Part of the problem is that there is no over arching goal, worse, one program or another is pushed by one administration and only to be killed by the next.
Only the Chinese seem to have a long view plan, goal - and perhaps the Russians. Time will tell about the Indians. As for the US - sinking into politically correct exploratory oblivion.
NASA is a fully government funded entity... so I assume you want them to disappear as well?
—
He’s not alone. There are a lot of them on FR. They hate manned space exploration as much as others here hate Apple. Inexplicable. Some kind of derangement syndrome. Experimental professional treatment required?
They wouldn’t tell us if they did!
Sad... one of the things that has always made America great from it’s earliest beginnings, is exploring the unknown despite great risk and personal sacrifice. The pioneering spirit, this is how we learn and develop new technologies. Is it hard yes, will we fail many times before we succeed? Yes, but and it’s how we move society and our humanity forward.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.