Well if it was drilled from the outside in, that would be spooky.
Not really. It was most likely done on the ground.
I suppose. But I would think cabin pressure and such are checked pre-launch.
Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
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Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
Seems more likely to me that some situation like "stacked panels, top panel is drilled thru and fabricator didn't notice" followed by someone else assembling it and thinking "this hole might be here for a reason".
1. Scratch marks around the hole means that panel was likely not obstructed by anything [but possibly soft material]. Stacked panels is unlikely. 2. Drill was hand-held - again due to the marks where drill bit was trying to find it's way around. 3. No any markings from pen/pencil or anything that would show that any kind of measurements were done beforehand. Which means that the hole was not part of any specific fixt…
I disagree. I would bet they have tooling and jigs to build a Soyuz, and this hole could be the outcome of a poorly clamped and placed jig. Having a jig would explain why they’re using a handheld drill and why there’s no evidence of measurement.
Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
Seems more likely to me that some situation like "stacked panels, top panel is drilled thru and fabricator didn't notice" followed by someone else assembling it and thinking "this hole might be here for a reason".
1. Scratch marks around the hole means that panel was likely not obstructed by anything [but possibly soft material]. Stacked panels is unlikely. 2. Drill was hand-held - again due to the marks where drill bit was trying to find it's way around. 3. No any markings from pen/pencil or anything that would show that any kind of measurements were done beforehand. Which means that the hole was not part of any specific fixt…
Which means that the hole was not part of any specific fixture/attachment or construction element.
I wouldn't be so sure about that --- "we need to mount an X, it needs to be roughly in this area", while possibly questionable in space, is not uncommon in other construction. It could be a similar scenario, except whoever was responsible identified the wrong area.
as well as determine which person's suit/clothing/outfit/personal belongings (astronaut's or technician) contain the traces of the metal that fall off as a result of the hole drilling effort
If it was done on the ground during construction, where many holes are drilled, I don't think that would work.
Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#34If it was deliberate then it sound like someone who doesn't know wtf they were / are doing. That rules out the astronauts, seems to point to someone on the ground, pre-launch, with nefarious intentions but a lack of knowledge on how best to execute that ill intent.
Maybe?
Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
Seems more likely to me that some situation like "stacked panels, top panel is drilled thru and fabricator didn't notice" followed by someone else assembling it and thinking "this hole might be here for a reason".
1. Scratch marks around the hole means that panel was likely not obstructed by anything [but possibly soft material]. Stacked panels is unlikely. 2. Drill was hand-held - again due to the marks where drill bit was trying to find it's way around. 3. No any markings from pen/pencil or anything that would show that any kind of measurements were done beforehand. Which means that the hole was not part of any specific fixt…
Conclusion that the hole was intended is not likely. The hole has its own drift mark, you can still get a drift mark after punching through your piece. There are 3 drift marks, 3 other bit taps, 2 or 3 more bit taps further back where the panel jig-jogs (this was what they were shooting for in the first place, this dead space where the bit could punch through safely.) Most people that drill a lot of holes in metal have the finesse and dexterity to know when you've punched through a piece. Whoever did this drilling does not have those skills.
When you hand hold a piece like this you rely on gravity and can put your weight down firmly against it so it doesn't move, even after punching through. Much tougher to do in space with no gravity, you need to use the frame itself to push against. If this was done on the ground it would have to be by a complete incompetent or drunk individual to make 8-11 damaging marks on the frame. Secondly in the second photo you see a padding that would partially cover this, it looks undamaged, meaning they lifted this padding for the explicit purpose of using that jig jog dead space in the frame as their 'punch through area.'
Lastly, since I've been in this situation many times, whatever they were drilling through would not fit on the frame in the orientation they needed for some of the holes they were planning on drilling, and thus this is likely why they missed their dead space safety area. The debris from this would now be floating where ever so impossible to use that to determine guilt from clothing. The only thing they can use is either preflight photos (the padding covered most the damage perhaps) or send every drill bit on the station back to earth for analysis; drifting your bit even on aluminum alloy will leave a signature. Correlate that with use records for component replacement times. You're also looking for components with holes in them that don't match the blueprints. When you're on a 'boat' though, sometimes these types of repairs are assumed and undocumented though (especially when you screw up.)
50/50 chance this was an astronaut or a very drunk contractor on ground. The most disturbing evidence here is the drift mark before the hole among the other bit tap marks. It implies the person drilling it did not have mental focus.
Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#36Can they figure out if it was drilled in space or Earth
There are drill bit skid marks, so, in theory, it might be possible to build some sort of a model (of a drill held by a human hand) and then see under which conditions these skids marks _are_ possible. But that's without considering that the simplest explanation is usually the right one and the at-orbit sabotage is just not that.
I wonder if the presence of gravity effects the way holes are drilled on the microscopic level
Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Depends if it was accompanied by insults and derision (bad) or patience and understanding that it is a learning opportunity and mistakes need to be rectified (note I didn't say paid for)
This is the approach I (try, and try and try and try) to take with my kids (6,4,2). I repeatedly tell them I will never be mad at them for mistakes, but they have to help fix them- whatever that may be. I also tell them I will get mad if they do it on purpose and/or I’ve instructed them not to do said thing that caused whatever issue. I try very hard to be explicit with instruction. Saying “be careful” doesn’t mean a…
I told my son I would never be made at him for a mistake, then he mistakenly tried to kick my hand while wrestling and his heel nailed my jaw and I bit hard into my bottom lip.
I was so mad ;)
But generally, yeah, I talk to him about stuff and go over consequences and empathy and such, and I agree it works pretty well.
Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not really. It was most likely done on the ground.
I suppose. But I would think cabin pressure and such are checked pre-launch.
The hole was sealed with glue initially. Temperature change in orbit eventually made it brittle and fall out, so the loss in pressure was only detected in orbit, but not prior to launch.
Re: Russian Cosmonauts Say That the Hole in the Soyuz Was Drilled from the Inside
#39At least it wasn't drilled from the outside..