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ISS NASA United States

US Astronaut's Return Hangs in the Balance as Tensions With Russia Escalate (theguardian.com) 70

Posted by msmash from the tussle-continues dept.
The US astronaut Mark Vande Hei has made it through nearly a year in space, but now faces what could be his trickiest assignment: riding a Russian capsule back to Earth in the midst of deepening tension between the two countries. From a report: Nasa insists Vande Hei's homecoming at the end of the month remains unchanged, even as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in canceled launches, broken contracts and an escalating war of words from the leader of the Russian Space Agency. Many worry Dmitry Rogozin is putting decades of peaceful partnership at risk, most notably at the International Space Station (ISS). Vande Hei, who on Tuesday will break the US single spaceflight record of 340 days, is due to leave with two Russians aboard a Soyuz capsule for touchdown in Kazakhstan on 30 March. He will have logged 355 days in space. The world record of 438 days belongs to Russia.

The retired Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly, America's record-holder until Tuesday, is among those sparring with Rogozin, a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin. Kelly has returned a medal to the Russian embassy in Washington but believes the two sides "can hold it together" in space. "We need an example set that two countries that historically have not been on the most friendly of terms, can still work somewhere peacefully. And that somewhere is the International Space Station. That's why we need to fight to keep it," Kelly said. Nasa wants to keep the space station running until 2030, as do the European, Japanese and Canadian space agencies. The Russians have not committed beyond the original end date of 2024 or so.
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US Astronaut's Return Hangs in the Balance as Tensions With Russia Escalate More

US Astronaut's Return Hangs in the Balance as Tensions With Russia Escalate

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    • Don't worry; after WW III, you won't have to deal with this shit anymore.
      • The west is just using this as an excuse to crush Russia economically and take them out of the running in the coming near peer contests. Nobody really gives a rat's behind about Ukraine's freedom and autonomy, and we'll be happy to let Russia have them. We weren't even going to bother with sanctions until it became clear Russia had just blundered into Vietnam 2: The Sequel.

        • Nobody really gives a rat's behind about Ukraine's freedom and autonomy, and we'll be happy to let Russia have them

          Sorry but I've cared about Ukraine for the past thirty years. Not sure who "we" is but I infer that it's a completely irrelevant group of people that unlike me doesn't even live in the region (otherwise it *would* "give a rat's behind").

        • While I wonâ(TM)t say the west is necessary innocent in world politics, we do need to ask how much of the current situation was down to Putins actions inside his own country and also outside of it.

          He has effectively stifled anyone who wants a âoefree and democraticâ system within Russia and his paranoia has effectively alienated anyone who isnâ(TM)t his inner circle. He may not be Stalin, but he has plenty of people running scared.

          I feel bad for the Russian people who want to build a bet

        • Nobody really gives a rat's behind about Ukraine's freedom and autonomy

          Actually we do. The days of Soviet tanks rolling through Eastern European capitals being OK is long since past.

          Putin may be able to keep Ukraine, at a heavy cost in life, but he should get used to having the Soviet economy, isolated from the West, back too.

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by Zemran ( 3101 )
            Might have been better if we had not started this war in the first place but that is how it goes every other year when we start a new one. Remember why this is happening: 1. In February 2014, a coup overthrew the Ukrainian government which came to power in an election certified by the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation). The president, Viktor Yanukovych, was forced to flee for his life. 2. The coup was instigated by United States officials such as Victoria Nuland and John McCain actively sup
            • Surely with your low UID you must have stumbled upon paragraphs at some point. TL/DR but I'm hoping the west is working hard to support a coup in Belarus right now. Those folks will never have a better shot at freedom than now, together with Ukraine.

              • Re: (Score:1)

                by Zemran ( 3101 )
                So you are opposed to democracy and freedom of the individual? The problem in Ukraine was that they kept voting for Russian leaders and the US did not like the Western candidates losing. Democracy is a bitch.
                • Zelensky has absolutely massive support there. Sorry bout that.

                  • Re: (Score:1)

                    by Zemran ( 3101 )
                    Zelensky has only been there since the main Pro Russian areas had there vote taken away. There has not been a democratic election since the pro Russian leadership in 2014. Now they simply murder the entire pro Russian parties by burning them to death, as in Odessa.

            • Might have been better if we had not started this war in the first place but that is how it goes every other year when we start a new one. [. . .]

              Sucks when you copy/pasta from your Russian Handler's emails, and the paragraphs don't translate.

              • Re: (Score:1)

                by Zemran ( 3101 )
                If I get a Russian handler how much would I get paid? Would I be able to continue to tell the truth instead of following the CNN lies that you clowns follow? If so I would be happy to do it and anyone who cares about what is actually happening would be happy to read what I wrote but the idiots with the dumb CNN propaganda would continue to expect me to be offended by the dumb racism.

                • If I get a Russian handler how much would I get paid? Would I be able to continue to tell the truth instead of following the CNN lies that you clowns follow? If so I would be happy to do it and anyone who cares about what is actually happening would be happy to read what I wrote but the idiots with the dumb CNN propaganda would continue to expect me to be offended by the dumb racism.

                  What CNN Lies?

                  Name 3, with proof of their falsehood.

                  • Re: (Score:1)

                    by Zemran ( 3101 )
                    So you honestly believe the propaganda that CNN pumps out :D There is no point in trying to hold a rational conversation with you then is there :D I would rather have a "Russian handler" (whatever that is) and a free mind than be as dumb as to believe CNN :)

                    • So you honestly believe the propaganda that CNN pumps out :D There is no point in trying to hold a rational conversation with you then is there :D I would rather have a "Russian handler" (whatever that is) and a free mind than be as dumb as to believe CNN :)

                      So, it should be no problem to give me three examples. Or better yet, make it MSNBC. I rarely watch CNN.

                    • Re: (Score:1)

                      by Zemran ( 3101 )
                      You really are an arrogant fool. You seem to think that I should do your research for you :) It would not be difficult but I do not work for you. Open your eyes and learn to read.

                    • You really are an arrogant fool. You seem to think that I should do your research for you :) It would not be difficult but I do not work for you. Open your eyes and learn to read.

                      Sorry; It doesn't work that way.

                      You made the assertion, it is up to you to back it up or shut it up!

                      Remember: I don't work for you, either.

        • Nobody really gives a rat's behind about Ukraine's freedom and autonomy

          Who elected you as spokesman for the free world?

        • European here. I suppose it could be propaganda that has influenced me but the sight of the Russian army razing European cities to the ground is troublesome. The Russians have been following their own playbook to successfully destabilise the USA and the EU - their disinformation campaign has so far been pretty effective. A line was drawn and they crossed it.
          • That said, hitting the ordinary Russians economically is horrible but perhaps they might want to know where their country's tremendous wealth is going? A few billionaires buying up luxury property and yachts all over the world...what the hell?

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by necro81 ( 917438 )

          Nobody really gives a rat's behind about Ukraine's freedom and autonomy, and we'll be happy to let Russia have them.

          Mike Pompeo [npr.org], is that you?

        • The west is just using this as an excuse to crush Russia economically and take them out of the running in the coming near peer contests. Nobody really gives a rat's behind about Ukraine's freedom and autonomy, and we'll be happy to let Russia have them. We weren't even going to bother with sanctions until it became clear Russia had just blundered into Vietnam 2: The Sequel.

          Right, comrade!

          Now go back and suck Tucker Carlson's dick.

    • With global population growth, climate change, and an ever growing wealth disparity such conflicts will likely become the "new normal".
      • except in a handful of places that aren't modernized yet and as soon as they do (which they are very much in the process of doing) it'll stop growing there.

        Pretty soon expect to see immigration just stop as countries either incentivize young folks to stay or just stop allowing people to leave.

        Funny thing about folks complaining about immigrants (I'm American, we've got lots of those), you could stop them showing up tomorrow if we just let South American and Mexico have stable, modern economies inste
      • Probably but this particular one feels more like the old normal, whether 1976 or 1700.
    • No we don't.

      Russians may unhook their segment (which contains all docking units), but they will actually evacuate the Americans off the station first.They have actually threatened to do it. Literally. With a nice explanatory video how it looks. You can find it Rogozin's twitter feed. Similarly, they have openly stated, that if USA does not stop throwing toys out of the pram, their next station project is going to:

      A) Be only theirs, no cooperation.

      B) Have weapons

      C) Be in Polar Orbit so it can hit any pl

      • but they will actually evacuate the Americans off the station first.

        Evacuate them to where? I don't think that it is a good time to be a high-profile American in the custody of Russians.

        • but they will actually evacuate the Americans off the station first.

          Evacuate them to where? I don't think that it is a good time to be a high-profile American in the custody of Russians.

          Considering Putin's "high regard" for human life, my guess would be evacuation out of the nearest airlock.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by dgatwood ( 11270 )

        Russians may unhook their segment (which contains all docking units) ...

        It might contain all Russian docking units for docking with Russian capsules (or Chinese, theoretically), but it's safe to say that if they did that, there would be no further Russian capsules docking with ISS anyway, so the lack of Russian docking capabilities would be entirely moot.

        SpaceX's current capsules dock using an IDA-3 adapter that converts from the Common Berthing Module standard (used for docking ports between ISS segments) to the NASA Docking System (used for various NASA ships), and is attache

      • No we don't.

        Russians may unhook their segment (which contains all docking units), but they will actually evacuate the Americans off the station first.They have actually threatened to do it. Literally. With a nice explanatory video how it looks. You can find it Rogozin's twitter feed. Similarly, they have openly stated, that if USA does not stop throwing toys out of the pram, their next station project is going to:

        A) Be only theirs, no cooperation.

        B) Have weapons

        C) Be in Polar Orbit so it can hit any place on Earth

        That, however is in the future. In the present, the so called "stranded spaceman problem" with the astronaut exists only in the mind of the English language press which has been given a command to paint all Russians with horns and tails.

        A Command by who, exactly?

  • Kelly has returned a medal to the Russian embassy in Washington but believes the two sides "can hold it together" in space.

    If he truly believed that he should not have returned the medal. Keeping the medal would have showed a distinction between the Russian Space program and what Russia is doing in the Ukraine, by returning the medal Kelly linked them publicly.

    • I would suggest that Dmitry Rogozin linked the two by suggesting that Mark Vande Hei could be left in the ISS [twitter.com]. Scott Kelly merely added an, "In that case, ...".

      • I would suggest that Dmitry Rogozin linked the two by suggesting that Mark Vande Hei could be left in the ISS.

        Yeah I agree, that was really bad - I saw that before and that gave me a lot more understanding as to why Kelly might have returned the medal to begin with....

        Even so, if you are really trying to push for renewed unity between space programs he should have not returned the medal, even with cause... he should have played the bigger man, kept the medal and pushed to bring the space programs back toge

  • A non-story (Score:3)

    by RobinH ( 124750 ) on Tuesday March 15, 2022 @02:04PM (#62359945) Homepage
    There are four Americans [whoisinspace.com] on the ISS right now. SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule can ferry up to 7. He's not going to be stranded there.

    • Re:A non-story (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Magnificat ( 1920274 ) on Tuesday March 15, 2022 @02:10PM (#62359965)
      Bingo -- we have a winner! The private Axiom Space mission is already scheduled to launch for a 10 day mission to the ISS on March 30 with a crew of 4. All NASA would need to do is contact them about allowing him to utilize one of the empty seats on the return trip. Then they wouldn't even need to alter any of the other return schedules for the other astronauts already up there.

    • Russia: We'll leave your astronaut stranded in space!

      US: That's fine, SpaceX is now able to go get him.

      Russia: Oh crap. I um, um I was um kidding. Yeah I was a joke haha.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by stikves ( 127823 )

        The funny thing is, Elon decided to build his own rockets, only after Russia did not sell him one. They played games increasing prices and whatnot, and then he said "f-u", and built Falcon rocket. Then Big "F" Rockets...

    • The 'up to 7' was the original design concept. The hardware they have today was built for 4.

      So they'd have to launch a Dragon with less than 4 people aboard, plus a new Dragon-compatible spacesuit for the astronaut.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by RobinH ( 124750 )
        Or just launch 2 dragon capsules, or 5. Who really cares at this point? It's a non-story. It's not like he's stranded on Mars and we have to send the Hermes back to get him.
  • Russia no longer controls access to the ISS. So transport need not be an issue. They do, however, play a critical role in other areas,; so the smart thing is to develop workarounds so if they leave ISS can remain operational. Perhaps we should invite the Chinese to take their place? ith them launching their own as well we could even have sleepovers at each other's space station.
    • Japan - Korea - Taiwan might be better choices under the circumstances.
      Or just have SpaceX be the replacement for sovereigns too....

    • Perhaps we should invite the Chinese to take their place?

      We paid for the Russian module, why not pay for a new propulsion module? Divert some of this new additional military budget to it, and make up a national defense excuse why it makes sense.

  • My fear is that they'll let our astronaut return on the Soyuz as scheduled, and then decide not to let him leave the country.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by splutty ( 43475 )

      He's landing in Kazakhstan, which is not Russia.

      How that'll actually work out realistically, is the question, but if he would be taken into Russia from Kazakhstan that is basically kidnapping.

      • Illegal drugs like hash oil have a strange attraction to NATO citizens. Coincidentally convenient for a prisoner swap. Though think Russia space Pride will prevail and this will mainly be fake, fake, fake, make it up (Taylor Swift melody) noise. Russia will not hostage him since an Astronaut. Russia can get other pawns. US should pay for the space fees if any applicable.

    • Well, the capsule lands in Kazakhstan, which is not Russia, and so far has not drawn the sanctiony ire of the west. They may be friendly to Russia, and like Russian moneys and hardware, but I think it's unlikely they would take part in keeping a US astronaut hostage, or allow it to happen on their soil.

      Of course, if I'm wrong and they do, I'm sure Biden will tell them in the most serious way possible, "Stop! Or I'll say Stop again!" Meanwhile Kamala will be on the sidelines giggling nervously.

      • I grew up in the 80's. WOLVERINES!, Reagan, Wargames, and every bit of that, with my ex-Navy nuclear dad teaching me things about what nuclear war might be like, prepping, etc. And I'm going to be honest: I've been doing a fair bit of nervous giggling myself lately...

      • Well, the capsule lands in Kazakhstan, which is not Russia, and so far has not drawn the sanctiony ire of the west. They may be friendly to Russia, and like Russian moneys and hardware, but I think it's unlikely they would take part in keeping a US astronaut hostage, or allow it to happen on their soil.

        Of course, if I'm wrong and they do, I'm sure Biden will tell them in the most serious way possible, "Stop! Or I'll say Stop again!" Meanwhile Kamala will be on the sidelines giggling nervously.

        And what exactly would you do, Trumpette?

        Let's hear your Master Plan!

        • Lol.... not everyone who recognizes Biden as a weak old fart who most of the time doesn't know where he is (or possibly who he is) is a Trump supporter, mmkay?

          As far as Putin, a few things come to mind:

          1) Going back before he invaded, announce some "military exercises" with Ukraine, putting lots of US troops on the ground there. Putin doesn't want a show-down with NATO, so putting NATO troops in Ukraine gives him really strong motivation to not attack. We and the rest of NATO have done plenty of exercises

          • Lol.... not everyone who recognizes Biden as a weak old fart who most of the time doesn't know where he is (or possibly who he is) is a Trump supporter, mmkay?

            As far as Putin, a few things come to mind:

            1) Going back before he invaded, announce some "military exercises" with Ukraine, putting lots of US troops on the ground there. Putin doesn't want a show-down with NATO, so putting NATO troops in Ukraine gives him really strong motivation to not attack. We and the rest of NATO have done plenty of exercises with (and in) Ukraine in the past, so this would be a perfectly rational thing to do just as it was perfectly rational for him to do joint exercises with Belarus.

            2) Where humanitarian efforts within Ukraine are concerned, and Russians aren't letting people out or food/medicine/water in: Load up a bunch of heavy transport choppers with humanitarian aid. Surround them with attack aircraft. Tell Putin "At X time, on Y day, these choppers WILL be delivering aid to these locations. You're welcome to send a couple Russians to inspect prior to us taking off, to confirm that these are strictly humanitarian supplies. If any Russian troop, ammo, missile, etc. interferes, we will decimate your troops." At scheduled day/time, send aid to those locations, surrounded by said defensive aircraft, and stay long enough for aid to be unloaded and distributed. Load choppers with refugees on the way out.

            3) Where the actual fighting is concerned, stop playing around with sanctions which Putin probably wants anyway (since he wants the Soviet Union back, which means he wants self-sufficiency instead of reliance on global commerce). Send actual meaningful military aid - mostly air defense systems. Stingers and Javelins are nice, but Ukraine needs a lot more than that. And if he wants airplanes, drag the Polish MiGs to the border and let the Ukrainians drag them across before their pilots hop in.

            Putin respects one thing: power. Someone like Biden who exudes weakness and ineptitude is not respected by Putin. If NATO puts on a strong military face and a show of power surrounding things like humanitarian aid, Putin will not get in the way. And if he does, NATO can crush him like the bug he is. Appeasement is NEVER the answer for people like him.

            1. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Non-helpful.

            2. Interesting idea.

            3. Are you willing to gamble WWIII?

            • It's always helpful to examine what could have been done differently, not so much to affect the current situation, but to be better prepared for future situations.

              As far as WWIII, anything we do or don't do gambles WWIII, and with someone like Putin running the show from the aggressor side of things, a quick and decisive humiliating victory seems more likely to avert WWIII than to cause it. By not doing anything, we empower Putin. If he wins Ukraine (or even a reasonable amount of their territory), and th

  • Is this really so difficult? (Score:3)

    by t0qer ( 230538 ) on Tuesday March 15, 2022 @02:28PM (#62360007) Homepage Journal

    I sort of remember SpaceX sent astronauts up to ISS, and got them back home via a Dragon Capsule. I double checked and sure enough they did. Why don't we just ask SpaceX to get him?

    • May be because Roskosmos debunked the groundless allegations that they ever considered refusing to take Mark Vande Hei back to Earth ?

  • Anyone returning the Russian medal will be given honorary Ukrainian citizenship, and transported to Ukraine for free. Note: Ukrainian male citizens between the ages of 18-60 (military age) are not allowed to leave. Vlad wishes you the best of luck in your explosion dodging future .

  • Assume that Russia decides to not bring him back. All that will happen is that he will ride the next Dragon back home, which can seat 7.

  • The next Commercial Crew mission can bring him back. The only problem might be getting a SpaceX suit up to him, since I suspect that the Crew Dragon capsule isn't compatible with a Soyuz spacesuit.

  • And you all know who that one guy is. Though many argue about the cost, resources, and who knows how many all-nighters performed by thousands debate about the future of ISS and how it fits into future programs but no. Just one guy starts a war and poof so much is lost. Maybe not set up an autocratic govt in the first place (which many here in the US wants to do).

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