Comments on: Another Russian Failure https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/25/another-russian-failure/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:05:36 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/25/another-russian-failure/#comment-10083 bowser Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:30:08 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=6196#comment-10083 Good answer. Good answer.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/25/another-russian-failure/#comment-10078 TB Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:04:51 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=6196#comment-10078 <p>The customer.</p> SpaceX customers signed on for flights currently include NASA, the Iridium satellite company (almost $500 million), SES, and others. I think taxpayers are paying something like $60 million a seat now for Soyuz launches to the ISS. That's per seat, not per flight. I'd rather see that money end up in the U.S. than Russia, but that's just me. The customer.

SpaceX customers signed on for flights currently include NASA, the Iridium satellite company (almost $500 million), SES, and others.

I think taxpayers are paying something like $60 million a seat now for Soyuz launches to the ISS. That’s per seat, not per flight. I’d rather see that money end up in the U.S. than Russia, but that’s just me.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/25/another-russian-failure/#comment-10076 bowser Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:38:52 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=6196#comment-10076 The SpaceX Dragon capsule to the ISS in February. "The U.S. has not opted out of the LEO manned arena. “U.S.” and “government” are not synonyms." Who is paying for the launch? The SpaceX Dragon capsule to the ISS in February.

“The U.S. has not opted out of the LEO manned arena. “U.S.” and “government” are not synonyms.”

Who is paying for the launch?

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/25/another-russian-failure/#comment-10071 TB Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:52:38 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=6196#comment-10071 On the other hand, the U.S. launch system has killed fourteen people. Soyuz has killed four since the 1960s. Soyuz delivered three people to the ISS just a few days ago. This is not about Russian vs. American tech, but about major design choices that were made. SpaceX has already successfully launched and recovered a man-rated capsule, one which will have a launch abort rescue system (So does Soyuz, and so did U.S. space capsules, although Gemini was reaching a bit). First test launch of the SpaceX Dragon capsule to the Space Station (no passengers) is scheduled for February. There are other companies hard on their heels. Of course, they will have setbacks too. The U.S. has not opted out of the LEO manned arena. "U.S." and "government" are not synonyms. On the other hand, the U.S. launch system has killed fourteen people. Soyuz has killed four since the 1960s. Soyuz delivered three people to the ISS just a few days ago.

This is not about Russian vs. American tech, but about major design choices that were made.

SpaceX has already successfully launched and recovered a man-rated capsule, one which will have a launch abort rescue system (So does Soyuz, and so did U.S. space capsules, although Gemini was reaching a bit). First test launch of the SpaceX Dragon capsule to the Space Station (no passengers) is scheduled for February.

There are other companies hard on their heels. Of course, they will have setbacks too.

The U.S. has not opted out of the LEO manned arena. “U.S.” and “government” are not synonyms.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/25/another-russian-failure/#comment-10068 bowser Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:48:23 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=6196#comment-10068 That's getting serious. You're right, it's the only access the US has to ISS. When Ronnie Reagan wanted the biggest orbiting residence for astronauts I doubt he had in mind that the US would be dependent upon the Russians to get back and forth to in 31 years later. I'm sure there is a glossy PR handout by NASA, et alia, on how it's not bad, private enterprise will take up the slack, this is simply a transition from federally funded exploration to capitalism, and there's not much for men to do in LEO. None of the drugs which would cure cancer, or the other drugs which would come from weightless research have come true, LEO isn't such a great thing. And the ISS hasn't been a cornucopia of scientific discoveries either, so that's only marginally relative. Nope, LEO isn't much, and private enterprise will have us there in no time. And if we could find a way to sell chunks of the moon we could even make money. Don't think the Chinese or Russians would like that, they probably need first hand experience with capitalism. The US has opted out of the LEO manned arena for good or for bad. I know I miss being #1 in that, turning from leaders to passengers, effectively turning over the ISS to other nations. Reminds me of Berlin in the '50s without the option of aerial resupply. I'm still saddened by the inability of the US to get to the ISS with men in it's own equipment. How the mighty have fallen. That’s getting serious. You’re right, it’s the only access the US has to ISS.

When Ronnie Reagan wanted the biggest orbiting residence for astronauts I doubt he had in mind that the US would be dependent upon the Russians to get back and forth to in 31 years later.

I’m sure there is a glossy PR handout by NASA, et alia, on how it’s not bad, private enterprise will take up the slack, this is simply a transition from federally funded exploration to capitalism, and there’s not much for men to do in LEO. None of the drugs which would cure cancer, or the other drugs which would come from weightless research have come true, LEO isn’t such a great thing. And the ISS hasn’t been a cornucopia of scientific discoveries either, so that’s only marginally relative. Nope, LEO isn’t much, and private enterprise will have us there in no time. And if we could find a way to sell chunks of the moon we could even make money. Don’t think the Chinese or Russians would like that, they probably need first hand experience with capitalism.

The US has opted out of the LEO manned arena for good or for bad. I know I miss being #1 in that, turning from leaders to passengers, effectively turning over the ISS to other nations. Reminds me of Berlin in the ’50s without the option of aerial resupply.

I’m still saddened by the inability of the US to get to the ISS with men in it’s own equipment.

How the mighty have fallen.

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