DocM Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 The docked Progress engines failed to light for an orbit reboost. Not a good day for Russian space hardware. http://sputniknews.com/science/20150516/1022209537.html Engines of the Progress M-26M cargo spacecraft, which is currently docked to the International Space Station (ISS), did not start on time, and a planned correction of the ISS orbit could not be carried out, a source in the Russian Federal Space Agency said Saturday MOSCOW (Sputnik) Experts are currently trying to figure out the reason behind this malfunction, the source added. A problem with the control system likely made it impossible to start the engines of the Progress M-26M cargo craft that was set to raise the orbit of the International Space Station. A new attempt to correct the space stations orbit could take place within a week after consultations with NASA experts, Russian sources say. The ISS must routinely be boosted to a higher orbit in order to counteract orbital decay that could eventually lead to the station's re-entry. There are currently six crew members on board the ISS Russians Anton Shkaplerov, Mikhail Korniyenko and Gennady Padalka, Americans Scott Kelly and Terry Virts, and Italian Samantha Cristoforetti. Kelly and Korniyenko, who arrived at the station in March, are set to stay there for a whole year, twice as long as regular missions. "According to preliminary data, there was no confirmation of the possibility to turn on the engines of the cargo craft. This is a whole procedure preceding the start of the engines themselves. It is possible that the problem is in the control system, the source told RIA Novosti. International Space Station in Baikonur, Kazakhstan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 16, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 16, 2015 Now I feel bad for the Russian space program...they don't deserve to have all this bad luck...hopefully it will be a quick fix...Later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted May 16, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 16, 2015 seems to be one oops after another for the Russians.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 16, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 16, 2015 @DocM I wonder if a Dragon V1 could put fuel tanks in the non pressurized cargo section and have booster engines attached. Also wonder if V2 could carry extra fuel for boosting as well....If the docking mechanisms could handle the stress....just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 No, the angled thrusters make the loads wrong and the SuperDraco's are too powerful, they'd rattle the whole station. The reboost capable vehicles were Shuttle, ATV and Progress, but only Progress is still flying. At one time they were developing a dedicated refuelable reboost module, but it ran over budget and was cancelled. 2 years from now CST-100 will be able to reboost, it was designed to, and there's some work around the idea of eventually using a solar electric tug for reboost. The electric thruster options are Hall Effect, ELF (Electrode-less Lorentz Force) or the VASIMR plasma rocket, all in development under NASA contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 16, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 16, 2015 No, the angled thrusters make the loads wrong and the SuperDraco's are too powerful, they'd rattle the whole station. The reboost capable vehicles were Shuttle, ATV and Progress, but only Progress is still flying. At one time they were developing a dedicated refuelable reboost module, but it ran over budget and was cancelled. 2 years from now CST-100 will be able to reboost, it was designed to, and there's some work around the idea of eventually using a solar electric tug for reboost. The electric thruster options are Hall Effect, ELF (Electrode-less Lorentz Force) or the VASIMR plasma rocket, all in development under NASA contract. Those propulsion alternatives will be great...at least NASA an USAF have the fore sight for these projects.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Wow. Certainly some issues to be addressed, and quickly. That ISS orbit is decaying by the hour. The longer it takes to find the problem, the more difficult it'll be to correct the overall situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 19, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 19, 2015 Reboost done... http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/05/iss-enjoys-reboost-progress-m-26m-misbehaves/ Good to see...Cheers Unobscured Vision and +E.Worm Jimmy 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 Whew.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 That could have been bad. Phew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 20, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 20, 2015 Must have been the flux capacitor or the turbo encabulator.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag webeagle12 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123456789A Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 No, the angled thrusters make the loads wrong and the SuperDraco's are too powerful, they'd rattle the whole station. The reboost capable vehicles were Shuttle, ATV and Progress, but only Progress is still flying. At one time they were developing a dedicated refuelable reboost module, but it ran over budget and was cancelled. 2 years from now CST-100 will be able to reboost, it was designed to, and there's some work around the idea of eventually using a solar electric tug for reboost. The electric thruster options are Hall Effect, ELF (Electrode-less Lorentz Force) or the VASIMR plasma rocket, all in development under NASA contract. Or they could just get out and push. speed3okie 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webeagle12 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Must have been the flux capacitor or the turbo encabulator.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag I don't even.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 20, 2015 Veteran Share Posted May 20, 2015 @webeagle12 This is one of my favorite techno babble video's, old, but tough to beat.....first saw this in the early 80's...Cheers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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