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Soyuz crew returns safely to Earth, despite radio problems

One of the two three-man crews on ISS have returned safely to Earth, despite an unexpected communciations blackout during their descent.

In related news, the Russians have slightly delayed the launch dates for the next manned flights to ISS, which also means that the next test flight of Falcon 9/Dragon will have to be delayed until 2012. Moreover, the Russians are once again balking at allowing Dragon to dock with ISS on this first flight.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
 

"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News

3 comments

  • Chris Kirkendall

    HUH??? Am I missing something?? Since when does RUSSIA get to dictate who can or can’t dock at the ISS? It’s called the INTERNATIONAL Space Station, not the Republic of Russia station. I’m open to hearing anyone’s explanation – as I said, maybe I’m missing something…

  • Joe2

    If you have the only crewed vehicle that can reach the ISS, you’d be suprised what you can dictate.

    On a more sreious note, does anyone have details on how this communications blackout differs from the expected ones during peak heating on re-entry? From the news accounts I have not been able to tell.

  • Chris Kirkendall

    Joe2 – you may be right about that. After making my comment, I was thinking, well, what can we really do about it, since we’re now going to have to rely on Soyuz to get our astronauts up there? They’re kind of in the driver’s seat right now. And they stand to lose a lot of $$ once we have a home-grown commercial co. (SpaceX & others…) who can do it – and probably cheaper to boot. So I’m sure they’re in no hurry to help us do that ! !

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