Russian Cargo Mission To ISS Spinning Out of Control 120
quippe writes: Many sources report that a Russian spacecraft, launched successfully (video) from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan earlier Tuesday, is in big trouble now after having a glitch shortly after liftoff. There is a video on YouTube (credit: NASA) of the space ship spinning out of control. Recovery attempts haven't gone well so far, but they will continue. If they can't regain control, the ship will likely burn up when it falls back into the atmosphere. Current speculation points to greater-than-expected lift by the third-stage, because the apogee is 20km higher than planned. The ship does not seem to pose a threat to the ISS at the moment.
Calm down with the "threats" (Score:4, Informative)
The ship does not seem to pose a threat to the ISS at the moment.
The resupply ship is not even remotely in the same orbit as the ISS. Progress 59 will never pose a threat to the ISS unless they regain control, adjust the orbit 200km higher, rendezvous with the ISS and attempt a docking.
Re:Partners in space (Score:3, Informative)
At least they can still get a man into orbit. Puts them way ahead of the U.S. And their safety record is a shitload lot better than NASA's.
Re:Saw this on the news (Score:5, Informative)
False. Solar Panels did deploy - that's about the last bit that is certain. Shortly after that there was a problem deploying KURS docking system antennas (not all deployed) and soon after the ship ended up tumbling.
44 pieces of debris has been detected near Progress and 3rd stage.
Current guesses include
- Collision with 3rd stage of the rocket, resulting in debris
- Explosion in the propulsion system of Progress, resulting in debris
Seems like Russians have given up (no response to commands over multiple attempts) and it will burn up sometime after May 7th.