NASA postpones ISS spacewalk due to debris from Russian anti-sat test
NASA today postponed a planned ISS spacewalk to fix an antenna because of a threat from debris from the Russian anti-sat test.
On Tuesday, about five hours before the astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron were due to venture outside the space station, Nasa said on Twitter that the spacewalk to fix a failed antenna had been cancelled. “NASA received a debris notification for the space station. Due to the lack of opportunity to properly assess the risk it could pose to the astronauts, teams have decided to delay the 30 November spacewalk until more information is available,” it tweeted.
This problem is only going to get worse. The Russians did something with that anti-satellite test that was either so stupid as to defy logic, or intentional in the worst sort of way. Russia’s actions actually suggest the Putin administration wanted to sabotage ISS.
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NASA today postponed a planned ISS spacewalk to fix an antenna because of a threat from debris from the Russian anti-sat test.
On Tuesday, about five hours before the astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron were due to venture outside the space station, Nasa said on Twitter that the spacewalk to fix a failed antenna had been cancelled. “NASA received a debris notification for the space station. Due to the lack of opportunity to properly assess the risk it could pose to the astronauts, teams have decided to delay the 30 November spacewalk until more information is available,” it tweeted.
This problem is only going to get worse. The Russians did something with that anti-satellite test that was either so stupid as to defy logic, or intentional in the worst sort of way. Russia’s actions actually suggest the Putin administration wanted to sabotage ISS.
Now available in hardback and paperback as well as ebook!
From the press release: In this ground-breaking new history of early America, historian Robert Zimmerman not only exposes the lie behind The New York Times 1619 Project that falsely claims slavery is central to the history of the United States, he also provides profound lessons about the nature of human societies, lessons important for Americans today as well as for all future settlers on Mars and elsewhere in space.
Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space, is a riveting page-turning story that documents how slavery slowly became pervasive in the southern British colonies of North America, colonies founded by a people and culture that not only did not allow slavery but in every way were hostile to the practice.
Conscious Choice does more however. In telling the tragic history of the Virginia colony and the rise of slavery there, Zimmerman lays out the proper path for creating healthy societies in places like the Moon and Mars.
“Zimmerman’s ground-breaking history provides every future generation the basic framework for establishing new societies on other worlds. We would be wise to heed what he says.” —Robert Zubrin, founder of founder of the Mars Society.
All editions available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all book vendors. The ebook can be purchased direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit, in which case you don't support the big tech companies and I get a bigger cut much sooner. Note that the price for the ebook, $3.99, goes up to $5.99 on September 1, 2022.
Autographed printed copies are also available at discount directly from me (hardback $24.95; paperback $14.95). Just email me at zimmerman @ nasw dot org.
ASAT’s the gift that keeps on giving.
NSF did a podcast with Jonathon of Jonathons Space Report on this topic that was quite good.
Not knowing much (i.e. anything) about the internals of the Russian government, I’d go with “so stupid as to defy logic”. There is a lot of “don’t question superiors” attitude, which is older than the Soviets, in Russia. Some general says, “we must test our missile” and there is no “but that’s a really bad idea, because…” pushback.
That’s even leaving aside the universal bureaucratic silo “left hand doesn’t know what right hand is doing” issue.
Since there are no reports of anyone being fired or otherwise punished for this cluster Brandon, I favor the “Putin administration wanted to sabotage ISS” option. Russia, meaning Putin, has been eager to abandon ISS for several years and may have done something intentional to force the issue.
I understand the quote: “Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity,” but after the Chinese were so soundly criticized for their own test in 2009, it isn’t reasonable to think that this month’s test by the Russians was not a well planned action. Otherwise, someone would have been fired for such supreme stupidity.
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
“Russians Don’t Take a Dump Son, Without A Plan”
https://youtu.be/FIjnTKr8FS0
2:47
Take the high ground.
Kill Command, Communications, (Machine Gunners), and over run.
Well, perhaps in another battle. For now though ….
Many “satellites” will fall, as burned crisp husks of nothing soon enough. Believe it.
“ERROR 500, no connection possible at this time… ”
Got HAM ?
Take the high ground.
Kill Command, Communications, (Machine Gunners), and over run.
Well, perhaps in another battle. For now though ….
Many “satellites” will fall, as burned crisp husks of nothing soon enough. Believe it.
“ERROR 500, no connection possible at this time… ”
Got HAM ?
Putin wants to kill space period. He is all but willing to sell Baikonur to the UAE-and no…that isn’t good for Islam to get R-7 pads.
I would say it was just a stupid move.
Has anyone asked the Russians why they did this?
Yes they asked the Russians.
Here’s the response… It was no big deal, nobody’s in danger, now let’s sit down and talk about it… Or we’ll do more testing…
“Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that instead of launching “unfounded accusations,” Russia “would prefer that the United States… actually sit down at the negotiating table and discuss its grievances
He went on to add that “it would be very interesting for us to listen not to excuses, but to a concrete reasoned position. We are ready for this.”
Lavrov also rejected Washington’s assertions that Moscow creates risks for the peaceful use of the solar system, dismissing them as hypocritical. “There are no facts” to support this, he insisted.
Russia’s Defense minister Sergey Shoigu confirmed on Tuesday that Russia had indeed tested its anti-satellite rocket system, confirming it “struck the old orbital with great accuracy.” He insisted that the fallout of fragments from the blast poses no threat to other spacecraft or astronauts aboard the International Space Station
https://www.rt.com/russia/540450-space-missile-tests-risk/
For Alex,
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/secret-russian-space-station-machine-gun-revealed/
“However, the only tool diplomacy has is language.”
Hodin
“The Mark of Gideon”
ST:TOG 17 January 1969
So, the Russians are straight blowing us off. “We don’t care what you think, because you aren’t going to/can’t do anything about it” And, they are not wrong. Nor are the Chinese.
Turns out this episode; Spock loses his cool:
SPOCK: Since the planet is shielded from our sensors, we cannot establish that without on the spot investigation.
ADMIRAL [on viewscreen]: Do you have evidence the captain’s life is threatened? Permission denied.
SPOCK: Admiral, I wish to state for the record that your decision is completely arbitrary.
ADMIRAL [on viewscreen]: So noted.
Also, some fortune-telling:
HODIN: We have told you, it is her wish and mine that there be no interference with the natural progress of the virus.
Hodin, remember, works for Government.