Rather than use American manned capsules, NASA is considering buying more Soyuz astronaut flights
Because of the delays imposed by its safety panel in the development of two American-made manned capsules, NASA is now considering buying more Soyuz astronaut flights from Russia.
Past experience has shown the difficulties associated with achieving first flights on time in the final year of development. Typically, problems will be discovered during these test flights. The consequences of no US crew on ISS warrant protection by acquiring additional seats. The absence of U.S. crewmembers at any point would diminish ISS operations to an inoperable state,” noted a procurement document published on February 13.
NASA is considering contracting with the State Space Corporation “Roscosmos” for these services on a sole source basis for two (2) Soyuz seats and associated services to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft vehicle. This transportation would be for one crewmember in the Fall of 2019 and one crewmember in the Spring of 2020.
Remind me again: What country does NASA work for? From this I think it is Russia, not the United States. The agency has no problem putting its astronauts on a Soyuz rocket, even though Russia has had chronic quality control problems that not only caused a Soyuz launch abort last year but also had someone drill a hole in a manned capsule, an act of sabotage that Russia has still not explained or solved.
Meanwhile, it slow-walks and delays in any manner it can the manned efforts of two American companies, so that it is forced to use Russian rockets. This is unconscionable. Where is Trump, the “America-First” guy? Why isn’t he stepping in and putting an end to this political gamesmanship that clearly favors a foreign power over American companies?
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In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
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Because of the delays imposed by its safety panel in the development of two American-made manned capsules, NASA is now considering buying more Soyuz astronaut flights from Russia.
Past experience has shown the difficulties associated with achieving first flights on time in the final year of development. Typically, problems will be discovered during these test flights. The consequences of no US crew on ISS warrant protection by acquiring additional seats. The absence of U.S. crewmembers at any point would diminish ISS operations to an inoperable state,” noted a procurement document published on February 13.
NASA is considering contracting with the State Space Corporation “Roscosmos” for these services on a sole source basis for two (2) Soyuz seats and associated services to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft vehicle. This transportation would be for one crewmember in the Fall of 2019 and one crewmember in the Spring of 2020.
Remind me again: What country does NASA work for? From this I think it is Russia, not the United States. The agency has no problem putting its astronauts on a Soyuz rocket, even though Russia has had chronic quality control problems that not only caused a Soyuz launch abort last year but also had someone drill a hole in a manned capsule, an act of sabotage that Russia has still not explained or solved.
Meanwhile, it slow-walks and delays in any manner it can the manned efforts of two American companies, so that it is forced to use Russian rockets. This is unconscionable. Where is Trump, the “America-First” guy? Why isn’t he stepping in and putting an end to this political gamesmanship that clearly favors a foreign power over American companies?
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
What stops SpaceX or Boeing from sending their own test pilots on space flights?
“Remind me again: What country does NASA work for?”
Shelbystan.
They have been reduced to a faucet through which money flows to the political vassals of the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Foxbat asks:
“What stops SpaceX or Boeing from sending their own test pilots on space flights?”
Boeing Space, Security, & Defense corp. is stopped by being one of Senator Shelby’s most prominent vassals, who do not dare rouse his anger.
SpaceX is now concentrating its own resources on flying Starship/Super Heavy, and will waste no more of its own on a program so totally dominated by NASA’s vassalage to a politician who demands total control over where the money is spent, instead of letting them get on with completing their work as specified in the contract. Commercial Crew is not totally written off, but will not be sped up because of Shelby’s hold on NASA, and so they will spend no more than they must to not abrogate the contract.
” . . . The absence of U.S. crewmembers at any point would diminish ISS operations to an inoperable state,”
Why? Do Americans have some special ability to work on space stations that others lack?
It seems Gene Kranz was wrong.
Failure does appear to be an option.
Blair Ivey asked:
“Why [would the absence of U.S. crewmembers at any point diminish ISS operations to an inoperable state]? Do Americans have some special ability to work on space stations that others lack?”
No. The Russians have already announced a reduced Russian crew for ISS. Not having Americans would have left so few people on board that maintenance, not science, would have been the major activity.
Yes. They know how to operate and maintain the American side of the space station, which is the vast majority of it. Without an American on board to perform maintenance the ISS systems will quickly begin to fail.
It makes you wonder what it would take for NASA management to issue a waiver to accelerate a Commercial Crew test launch. Would a Soyuz have to blow up on liftoff?
Perhaps, but one has the sinking feeling it wouldn’t be issued to the contractor based in Hawthorne.
Richard M,
Fortunately, “the contractor based in Hawthorne” will have its own crew-capable orbital and deep space vehicle ready to fly – perhaps in as little as a year. At that point, Sen. Shelby’s malign influence will be dealt a significant blow – perhaps, one dares hope, even a fatal one.
I would be cautious about appealing to President Trump. He was wanting to make the first flight of the SLS a manned flight which is just a little bit too ambitious for me.