Samantha Cristoforetti without supplies: Progress cargo capsule … – The Messenger

Samantha Cristoforetti and the other five astronauts on the space station certainly will not die of hunger, but after the loss of the shuttle cargo American Cygnus on October 29, now is the Progress capsule to keep anxious crew ISS control centers and Russian and American. Also because in these cases, for a few years, you can not turn to DHL or FedEx to deliver packages in orbit.
In what is the docking of the cargo capsule Russian Progress M-27M, launched the other morning from Baikonur, is postponed to an indefinite date. The shuttle would be “turning on its axis very quickly and in an uncontrolled manner,” making “a ride in just a few seconds.” The source said an aerospace agency Tass. Initially there was talk of a delay of 6 hours ahead of time of arrival, on 28 April, which remained, even considering the relatively low traffic on the Gro (Great Ring orbital), more than acceptable. But then the times have been stretched.

Not that the cargo Russian Progress out of control is a danger for the six astronauts aboard the Space Station or for some land. Forget the movie Gravity, in short: if, in the worst case, it was impossible to restore control of the shuttle, this will come down gradually to burn on impact with the atmosphere. From the control center to Earth continue to work while trying to restore control of the cargo, hoping to still groped a docking of the Progress to the space station and so save his load.

The Russian space agency, Roskomos, explained that “there are difficulties in receiving telemetry from the ship. At the moment, there is only the radio link control”. The problem is however defined in resolution, but without specifying times. Currently, in addition to Samantha Cristoforetti, a bit ‘sad for the approaching return to Earth on May 14, there are orbiting US astronauts Virts and Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov, Mikhail Kornienko and Jurij Lonaakov.

Currently the cargo Progress is the only way to carry large loads ISS. as well as the Soyuz is the only cars to carry passengers on the space station waiting, certainly not short, for the arrival of new US Shuttle.

The set list of supplies is however calculated so that the crew can resist until the arrival of the next capsule, although any failure docking often involves a delay in the execution of the experiment program.

For example firework that was taken away in the Cygnus October (a joke from 266 million dollars) had incinerated two of 10 kits for scientific testing of Cristoforetti that in a few weeks would come ISS. The team that decorate these experiments some time, for safety, so prepare at least two for each test kit.
             
             
                         
         

             Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 02:53 – Last Updated: 03:11
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