Cosmonaut criticizes "safe haven" plan
Posted: Sat, Feb 5, 2005, 9:46 AM ET (1446 GMT)
A Russian cosmonaut who will be a member of the next long-duration International Space Station crew said Thursday he isn't sure that the station can serve as a "safe haven" should a shuttle be unable to return to Earth. Sergei Krikalev. who will command Expedition 11 starting in late April, said he has asked NASA to cut the size of STS-114, the first post-Columbia shuttle mission, from seven to four. Krikalev said that if the shuttle suffers damage during ascent and cannot return to Earth, it would be possible to return the shuttle and station crews to Earth on two Soyuz capsules, one of which would already be docked to the station. Otherwise, a rescue would require the combined nine-person crew to survive on the station for weeks until a rescue shuttle could be launched. NASA officials said they intend to keep a seven-person crew on STS-114.
A Russian cosmonaut who will be a member of the next long-duration International Space Station crew said Thursday he isn't sure that the station can serve as a "safe haven" should a shuttle be unable to return to Earth. Sergei Krikalev. who will command Expedition 11 starting in late April, said he has asked NASA to cut the size of STS-114, the first post-Columbia shuttle mission, from seven to four. Krikalev said that if the shuttle suffers damage during ascent and cannot return to Earth, it would be possible to return the shuttle and station crews to Earth on two Soyuz capsules, one of which would already be docked to the station. Otherwise, a rescue would require the combined nine-person crew to survive on the station for weeks until a rescue shuttle could be launched. NASA officials said they intend to keep a seven-person crew on STS-114.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, November 16
ISRO Preps US Launch Of Advanced Satellite For Enabling In-Flight Internet
NDTV.com — 6:54 am ET (1154 GMT) Mexican Ambassador, ISRO Chairman discuss space collaboration
The Hindu — 6:54 am ET (1154 GMT) ISRO to launch GSAT-20 communications satellite using Elon Musk's SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket
Daily News and Analysis (India) — 6:53 am ET (1153 GMT) SpaceX to launch India’s GSAT-20 satellite in major deal with ISRO
Hindustan Times — 6:52 am ET (1152 GMT) ‘Possibility of a catastrophic failure’: Inside the space station leak problem that has NASA worried
CNN — 6:51 am ET (1151 GMT) |
