Further Details From Soyuz Mishap

fyc brings us some information from Universe Today about what happened to Soyuz TMA-11 when it re-entered the atmosphere late last week. Reports indicate that a failure of explosive bolts to separate the Soyuz modules delayed the re-entry and oriented the capsule so the hatch was taking most of the heat, rather than the heat shields. CNN reports that the crew was in 'severe danger.' They experienced forces of up to 8.2 gravities. NASA officials have voiced their approval of how Russia handled the crisis. They expect to rely heavily on Soyuz spacecraft once the shuttles are retired in 2010.

Don't hit me...

[Daimanta]

In soviet Russia, bolts explode you!

Re:GAO Report

[MichaelSmith]

Australia? One is just 10km away from me now. came up the river Rhine two weeks ago and now is perpared for display in a museum from August on.

Thats the new Australian colonialism for you. Look out Europe.

Re:Built tough.

[Sique]

They're the Volvos of the space program.

They use turbo charged Renault-engines?

Re:We won't always be so lucky

[Shakrai]

unless the American passengers were, I don't know, rocking the capsule back and forth on the way down.

Sorry, we won't let it [wikipedia.org] happen again ;)

Re:Russian hardware

[the_other_chewey]

Remind me, why should we copy the Russians in the space arena? In which regard are they ahead of the west?

Daylight. They are constantly hours ahead, and the west still hasn't caught up.