Comments on: Russian/Ukrainian Zenit rocket puts Angola’s first satellite into orbit

By: Robert Zimmerman

Robert Zimmerman — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 01:38:48 +0000

In reply to Lee S. Lee S wrote, "Russia has no need, no money for, and quite frankly no intention of expanding its borders." Hm. I wonder would the people in the Crimea would say to that, since they were in the Ukraine before this war started and now are under Russian rule. As are large areas of the Donbass region. See for example the map here, which clearly shows that Russia has expanded its borders significantly since the war started in 2014.

By: Lee S

Lee S — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 00:50:06 +0000

Bob, you must know that the”war” on Russia, by the USA and Europe is as much theater as anything else…
Russia has no need, no money for, and quite frankly no intention of expanding its borders… the war games are there to sell arms.
It is no surprise that backstage its business as usual…

By: CaptainEmeritus

CaptainEmeritus — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 20:15:01 +0000

It has been reported, the satellite ceased communicating as it was separated from the upper stage that placed it into the geostationary transfer orbit.

By: Localfluff

Localfluff — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 19:01:33 +0000

So the story goes that they couldn’t launch it on the bankrupt rocket, because of some proxy-armed conflict in Nooneknowsland. Instead, they for a while booked it on one of the many non-existing launchers. But since the blueprints weren’t making the customers satisfied enough to make the final payouts, they finally just happened to find an old rocket in some storage building. The failure was due to the payload (not to the delays, or so I suppose they will argue years to come).

Since they need help, they are free to quote me in their commercials without charge. It’s Xmas.

By: geoffc

geoffc — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 13:58:40 +0000

R-171 is what Tim Allen meant on Tool Time when he said “More power!” Almost 1.8 million lbs thrust! F-1 equivalent in scale.

THAT is what a main engine should perform like. None of this piddly 190Klbs thrust so that you need 9 of them. Pshaw! (Sure with 9 smaller ones you can land, but more power!!!)