Progress launch Sunday

 news, rockets, spacecraft
Oct 282011
 

The first Progress (automated cargo-hauling version of the Soyuz) since one went ker-BLAM in August is set to launch Sunday. In all probability, based on years of experience, it’ll work just fine. If it doesn’t… then the ISS will be pretty much done, since it’ll have to be abandoned by the current crew, and a new crew won’t be able to be launched until 2012 sometime (if then).

So you read this conspiracy theory first here: if the Progress fails, it’s because the Russians made it fail in order to trash the ISS.

First Progress Launch Since Accident Looms Large for Space Station Program

 Posted by at 11:04 pm

  3 Responses to “Progress launch Sunday”

  1. Roberta X says:
    October 29, 2011 at 6:01 am

    Naw, It’ll be ‘cos the Red Chinese want to be the only game in orbit.

  2. Captain Ned says:
    October 29, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    All of the big Russian bits are already up there. I’m sure they make lots of money on each Progress resupply and/or Soyuz ferry flight, so why would they kill the cash cow now?

    • admin says:
      October 29, 2011 at 4:08 pm

      > why would they kill the cash cow now?

      The Russians have already suggested bringing the ISS down sooner rather than later. Why would they do so? The ISS is not really good for much of anything; if the Russians have plans (lunar missions, other stations, etc), the requirement to keep up the ISS facade would get in the way.

      See: http://up-ship.com/blog/blog/?p=11443

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