Comments on: Space Station Evades Space Debris

By: Chuck Lam

Chuck Lam — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:43:29 +0000

Hmm . . . can't help wonder how NASA plans on avoiding a golf ball sized rock, traveling maybe 30,000 mph, smacking head on into a manned vehicle on its way to Mars. Maybe running into something is responsible for past probe disappearances. Maybe space isn't as empty as we think it is.

By: El Sofista - La EstaciÃ³n Espacial evita chocar con los restos de un satÃ©lite

El Sofista - La EstaciÃ³n Espacial evita chocar con los restos de un satÃ©lite — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:09:43 +0000

La EstaciÃ³n Espacial Internacional (ISS) se vio forzada a llevar a cabo una maniobra evasiva para esquivar los deshechos espaciales de un satÃ©lite ruso que se habÃa desintegrado a principios de este aÃ±o. [...] Fuentes: Nancy Atkinson para Universe Today, ESA y MSNBC.

By: SUGARAT

SUGARAT — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:30:58 +0000

The reason we let russia have so much control is that they do not care about the environmental/health impact caused by launching the way they do. Check out the fuels they use, which are prohibited here. We supported their space program because they can do things we aren't allowed to in the states(lower costs for us to rent launches from them than to do so at our increased cost) . Our policy makers probably underestimated their ability to cause problems for us. And does not America need a constant bad guy? When the raping of our natural resources starts up again the war on terror will slip from the media, and that vacuum will need to be filled with some other evil.

By: Jorge

Jorge — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:15:35 +0000

You'd probably be less inclined to become pissed if you knew that control over the space station is constantly being handed over back and forth to the various mission controls of the participating agencies, depending on who has the best communication with the station, on who's module work is being carried on, etc.

And if you payed less attention to western propaganda. One of the biggest preversions of free press is that it publishes (freely) whatever is fed to it as "breaking news", without bothering to confirm them, for fear of losing the scoop. When it comes to short-term propaganda, it's just as unreliable as controlled press. But since it's "free", people tend to believe it, which doesn't happen when we know the press is being censored. And this means that the "free press" is more efficient as a way to distort public perception of the facts than controlled media.

Our world is a blast, isn't it?

I have a rule of thumb: I don't take at face value anything that comes out as "news" regarding developping situations. Until those "news" are confirmed by independent reports they are just as likely to be information as misinformation.

I only wish more people did the same.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:17:14 +0000

Does anyone find it scary that Moscow controls the modules which enable ingress and egress and now apparently the manuvering capabilities. Tell me how this happened? what a massive strategic error. With the relationship between russia and the rest of the world deteriorating, they essentially have complete control over the station if the want it. This move which was taken over and was carried out by moscow mission control to avoid a debri field which according to russia never existed in the first place from a satellite of their own making makes no sense. All this did was tell the rest of the world was that they are in control of the ISS. They then "handed back" control to Europe Mission Control. Then, Russia used the ISS to take images of Georgia during the attack to "check on humanitarian issues" Bull S__T. They are using it for military purposes and there is not a damn thing we can do about it. If they want they can just say, you cant dock and we will move it to where ever we want to use it for whatever they want.

I am shocked that Europe and the U.S. put Russia in such a controlling position on something that we have paid the majority of the bill on and have been the driver.

This is like the satellite shoot downs from china and the u.s. They were only doing it to "protect" everyone from a falling satellite when everyone knows that it was a show of force to let the other know it had the capability.

This is no different. I'm pissed, how about you?

By: Sili

Sili — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:30:06 +0000

Pity it had to be done this way. What a waste. Why oh why don't we have more flexible access to space yet?

How does one go about turning a whole space station around? How fast can it be done?

Is there room to let the next ATV dock at the other end? Then as the old one gets low on fuel it can be used for stuff like this until it's empty while the 'full' one is used for the regular boosts.

By: NoAstronomer

NoAstronomer — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:40:41 +0000

kcuhC, lying in the face of the observable facts is not a trait limited to communist governments. Though they are definitely pushing the edge of the envelope.

Also the lies are not intended for the population. You don't think that the people of the old Soviet Union actually *believed* all that crap? No the lies are aimed at the naive external observers.

By: Jorge

Jorge — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:39:31 +0000

LOL!

kcuhC, dude, you live in the past. Russia stopped being communist in 1990 or 1991, when the USSR dissolved. Do download an upgrade to your wetware.

By: kanthan

kanthan — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:36:11 +0000

"satellite disintegrated on March 14 into hundreds of pieces, and later disintegrated further "
I wonder what causes this to happen.

By: kcuhC

kcuhC — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:46:50 +0000

What is it with communist governments that think they can say things that fly in the face of facts and strong evidence, and just expect everyone to believe it. They think the BS they use within their borders works outside…I think they choose to lie not just to benefit themselves, but becuase they are incapable of anything else.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:34:57 +0000

That is a beautiful picture of ISS and ATV. Why not link to a high-res version (e.g. spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-124/hires/s124e009982.jpg). Looking at the photo I just realized how big the ATV really is compared to the other modules of the ISS. I've never given its size much thought before. I'm telling you: Europe is definitely ready for its own manned programme. It's sad there is so much haggling between the European countries on the issues of space exploration (among others). Come to think about it, if ESA was allowed to it could field a crew transport to ISS before the shuttle is retired. But I guess the European politicians don't want to upset Russia any more than they already have…

By: Philip from Australia

Philip from Australia — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:57:18 +0000

And did the key logger get all the passwords needed for this?? Could be handy.

I kid… I kid. Couldn't resist. Sorry.

By: The Occupant

The Occupant — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:31:29 +0000

Is it just me, or do the russians just LOVE to name thier satelittes, "Cosmos"? Because if that number is an accurate representation of the number of satelittes Cosmos, then over 2000 craft bear that name. In a word, lots.