Russia accidentally destroys its only way of sending astronauts to space
(www.independent.co.uk)
from fne8w2ah@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 30 Nov 2025 06:37
https://lemmy.world/post/39512826
from fne8w2ah@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 30 Nov 2025 06:37
https://lemmy.world/post/39512826
#world
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Metaphor too on the nose. English teacher would have given me a C-
Yeah. Like, you read history and think “no, the medieval chronicler was trying to make a didactical point, it didn’t actually-” but no, it kinda just happens sometimes…
Whelp, guess that’s the end of things for a bit. It’ll be interesting to see where Pootin manages to dig up the millions he’ll need for repairs.
Where? The same place where any “esteemed leader” takes money: from the citizens’ pockets.
from defenestrated oligarchs pocket.
Russia isn’t socialist. Defenestrated oligarch pocket’s content moves to the next oligarch in line.
But calling them oligarchs isn’t correct. In Russia those people don’t control the government as oligarchs should by definition, they are just temporary wardens of the objects and in charge only while the tsar is pleased with them.
I mean that is exactly where the US is heading and has been for years. A lot of people would be shocked to know how many ties our 3 letter spooks have to wall street and the tech sector.
They’ll find it, their space program is one of the few things going well for Russia, and there’s too much prestige on the line.
Like everyone else the ISS is learning that Putin isn‘t a reliable partner the hard way. It‘s astonishing how reluctant we are to learn and adapt.
Russia has been pretty reliable for ISS transit ever since they launched the first module for it back in 1998. Despite political bluster, they’ve followed through when needed. Including after we unilaterally decided to decommission to Shuttle with no replacement, leaving Soyuz as the only crew transit option available at all.
Well, it was also proven that the Shuttle was a generally unsafe design. That seems like a good reason to unilaterally decommission anything.
I suppose an Ariane 6 could help at least for boosting and cargo. I don’t remember if it is rated for crew flight yet.
A functionial rocket is only half the story. You also need a spacecraft which can be integrated onto said rocket. ESA hasn’t had one of those since the ATV.
They have other launch pads and cosmodromes to launch unmanned supply missions which are also used for boosting. They can launch Soyuz-2 rockets from Vostochny, which they chose because they can still reach the ISS from there with a similar payload to Baikonur. Although they never launched a Progress from Vostochny.
I know it’s a bad thing to write, but currently any russian set back is just fine by me
This one may actually ripple internationally, as Russian rockets are still used in quite some international missions.
I know, and it will! It will also cut funds to Russia, no one will trust their equipment or astronauts to them.
use a trampoline to get you Cosmonauts up there now?
<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/a4a69833-06f0-47cb-9e47-82f1c5738df7.gif">
Sounds like they haven’t had sufficient funds to keep it in good repair, yet they’re announcing that after decomissioning the ISS they will launch their own Russia-only space station. Baloney?
Anyhow I feel they’re busy with other things right now and launching astronauts is not their #1 priority. But this could point to Russia’s economy/society crumbling more and more, so it’s still a net positive.
The only thing that really pisses me off here is that it will most likely play into Musky Melon’s hand.
They'll find a way to launch it. They'll go back into the old Soviet mindset of
throwing blini at a wall until something stickssending cosmonaut after cosmonaut until they have a success and then pretend the others didn't exist.And they'll fill the minds of young would-be cosmonauts full of propaganda and tell them that there was definitely no-one before them who died up there, especially not in pain or terror. Those were unmanned test missions. Strap yourself in, you're going to space!
Putin and his Oligarch buddies have been automatically looting their country for more than 30 years, and the long-term effects have been apparent for awhile, such as the poor condition of their military when it came time to fight a war again. Judging by the clues, their ability to be a true nuclear deterrent should be reassessed. If their nuclear silos are in similar shape to this launchpad, we don’t have a lot to worry about.
Even the Soviet Union did this. While Russia itself was unable to sustain itself, more and more countries from the fringes had to help out by exporting the fruit of their work, resources etc.
Doesn’t Russia have another launch facility in Amur Oblast?
Namely Vostochny Cosmodrome
Yeah, but I’m not sure it’s equipped for launching people into space.
Got it!
This facility was their only one capable of getting to the ISS and launching the Soyuz. The others are used for different purposes, albeit still in space.
I see, thanks for clarification
The issue is the two other launch pads they control are too far north to safely launch to the ISS
The Russians said it wll be repaired quickly. The accuracy of this is anyone’s guess.
They also said their special operation would be done quickly, and we all know how that turned out
it is estimated that 80 to 85% of all russians are drunks. That is probably why this happened and why it wont be repaired anytime soon.
space is probably happier without them.
Elon Musk volunteering to blow up few astronauts in 3…2…1…
Everyone’s seen it coming, since it’s not their own space program, but one inherited from the USSR, and they haven’t even been really interested in properly maintaining it.