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Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#31

Post by bravetraveler »

tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #8

I'm wondering whether the astronauts in this situation are excited about getting an extended stay in space without the usual competition for launch opportunities, or are unhappy about it (due to the long separation from family, health effects, the lack of comfort that comes with living on the frontier of what humanity can currently reach, etc.). This quote: > “They understand the importance now of moving on and... ge…

Stuff like this is so politically loaded it's hard to say. Defending from at least 12 different angles!

Were it me, I'd be conflicted for the obvious reasons. Yay, more time in space. Can do the rare part. Oh no, more time in space - danger.

I'm not an astronaut though - they've been selected for certain behavior

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#32

Post by rkagerer »

AmericanChopper wrote: post #27
thegrim33 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody is stranded. At no time does NASA not have a plan to evacuate the space station if there's an emergency. There's currently 7 people aboard and 5 space craft docked, all of which can carry multiple people, all of which can be used to get people off the station.

You’re describing a plan for how to deal with stranded astronauts. If I’m on a road trip and my car breaks down at a gas station, I’m stranded. Even if there are other people and other cars at the gas station, and even if I still have access to emergency services, and even if I have a plan for how to deal with being stranded at a gas station.

I think some of us have a different (and perhaps colloquial) definition of stranded. Like, on a deserted island with no practical way home until some random ship happens to come by.

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#33

Post by throwup238 »

bravetraveler wrote: post #31
tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #8

I'm wondering whether the astronauts in this situation are excited about getting an extended stay in space without the usual competition for launch opportunities, or are unhappy about it (due to the long separation from family, health effects, the lack of comfort that comes with living on the frontier of what humanity can currently reach, etc.). This quote: > “They understand the importance now of moving on and... ge…

Stuff like this is so politically loaded it's hard to say. Defending from at least 12 different angles! Were it me, I'd be conflicted for the obvious reasons. Yay, more time in space. Can do the rare part. Oh no, more time in space - danger. I'm not an astronaut though - they've been selected for certain behavior

> Oh no, more time in space - danger.

Has anyone ever died in space (as in above the von Karman line)? The danger is on launch and reentry, which is the risk this delay is trying to mitigate.

Even the worst space accident (Apollo 13) ended up returning safely.

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#34

Post by mrjin »

ravjo wrote: post #2

To add some context: the astronauts are not "stranded" in space. They are in the international space station. They were supposed to get back on this capsule after a few days stay, but they are now expected to stay in the ISS and get back only in February on SpaceX capsule/vehicle.

Define stranded please?

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#35

Post by rkagerer »

tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #8

I'm wondering whether the astronauts in this situation are excited about getting an extended stay in space without the usual competition for launch opportunities, or are unhappy about it (due to the long separation from family, health effects, the lack of comfort that comes with living on the frontier of what humanity can currently reach, etc.). This quote: > “They understand the importance now of moving on and... ge…

Their assignment was to complete a test flight. They're probably disappointed they won't get to finish the job.

As astronauts I can't imagine they're too upset over the prospect of more time in space. I'm sure the timing inconveniences medium-term plans they had, and is a pain in the a* from that perspective, but in their line of work you know how to expect the unexpected and roll with new circumstances. I'm sure their loved ones are glad their safety is being considered foremost.

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#36

Post by bravetraveler »

throwup238 wrote: post #33
bravetraveler wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stuff like this is so politically loaded it's hard to say. Defending from at least 12 different angles! Were it me, I'd be conflicted for the obvious reasons. Yay, more time in space. Can do the rare part. Oh no, more time in space - danger. I'm not an astronaut though - they've been selected for certain behavior

> Oh no, more time in space - danger. Has anyone ever died in space (as in above the von Karman line)? The danger is on launch and reentry, which is the risk this delay is trying to mitigate. Even the worst space accident (Apollo 13) ended up returning safely.

Yea, that's a fair point - not many. It's more of a "monkey brain" response than anything. In orbit you're high off the ground but not really falling... at it, you know?

edit: I may trust the vessel but state changes are where the devil works

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#37

Post by AmericanChopper »

rkagerer wrote: post #32
AmericanChopper wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re describing a plan for how to deal with stranded astronauts. If I’m on a road trip and my car breaks down at a gas station, I’m stranded. Even if there are other people and other cars at the gas station, and even if I still have access to emergency services, and even if I have a plan for how to deal with being stranded at a gas station.

I think some of us have a different (and perhaps colloquial) definition of stranded. Like, on a deserted island with no practical way home until some random ship happens to come by.

Stranded means you have no means for moving from where you are, or really no practical/acceptable means (you could swim off a deserted island for instance, but that probably wouldn't be considered a practical means of moving off the island).

Boeing has stranded these astronauts on the ISS because it has no (acceptable) means of bringing them down, and the astronauts themselves have no personal means for doing so. If they want to become un-stranded then somebody will need to arrange the means for them to come down.

That doesn't mean that it's impossible for somebody else to provide those means, or that the means simply don't exist in any capacity. But they meet both the dictionary and common colloquial definition of stranded.

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#38

Post by peeters »

tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #8

I'm wondering whether the astronauts in this situation are excited about getting an extended stay in space without the usual competition for launch opportunities, or are unhappy about it (due to the long separation from family, health effects, the lack of comfort that comes with living on the frontier of what humanity can currently reach, etc.). This quote: > “They understand the importance now of moving on and... ge…

If I had to guess, the thing they would dislike the most about the situation is that two previously assigned astronauts scheduled to fly are getting bumped from their mission so that Crew Dragon can fly with two empty seats.

Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them

#39

Post by ekianjo »

rjh29 wrote: post #29
tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #8

I'm wondering whether the astronauts in this situation are excited about getting an extended stay in space without the usual competition for launch opportunities, or are unhappy about it (due to the long separation from family, health effects, the lack of comfort that comes with living on the frontier of what humanity can currently reach, etc.). This quote: > “They understand the importance now of moving on and... ge…

Last time I read about this, the astronauts absolutely love being in space and will be happy about it. Heck even I would be happy, this is a one in a million experience!

rather one in a billion experience :-) at least for now
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