NASA Problems Persist

What's going on with this space station? I get the feeling they're running Windows software up there.

I haven't followed the reports. Is there any sense of near-panic? Are the astronauts safe?

I see that the astronauts are fixing the thermal blanket today. I'm assuming that, if they succeed, there's a chance that everybody goes back in the shuttle. But is there enough room for the Russians?

 

I dont think it would be that dire to evacuate immediately.

The ISS has a Soyuz Capsule for all 3 astronauts aboard the ISS..

 

I read a report earlier today that quoted NASA officials as saying that the astronauts are in no danger. I haven't checked on an update, but I'm sure the story is changing by the hour.

My understanding is that they have power to run oxygen but that they don't have power to the thrusters that keep the space station in orbit. I guess that Soyuz capsule can return to Earth? I don't know the first thing about Russian spacecraft. Jones might have another book to write before all of this mess is over.

 

Leave the Russians. Take the cannolis.


In all seriousness, what I have read says that they will be fine. The problem is that they have a problem at all. This isn't what NASA needs right now. Far too much money has been lost, with this project and others that are very recent.

 

But aren't the problems on the Russian side of things? Not much NASA can do about that.

 

True enough. But that doesn't affect public perception. People are going to hear "space" and "hole" and, while Boots will be thinking of his neighbor, much of the public will be staring at NASA and wondering what is happening.

 

Can we somehow blame Putin for this?

 

Jones?
Mr. Jones?
There's something happening, but you don't know what it is.
White courtesy phone, Mr. Jones.

 

Neither do the Russians --- according to Space.com, both the thrusters and computers are from their country.

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070615_iss_computer_update.html

Yes.

Godspeed and good luck to the station crew.


[obvious]
Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
[/obvious]

 

Thanks. I not only have that song stuck in my head, but I'm about to become addicted to another Web site. I see that I missed that rocket launch today. It was supposed to launch on Thursday. The local paper had breaking news links announcing the launch. It said in the second that the launch had been pushed back an hour. I waited for the launch and saw nothing. And the news site provided no update. Its coverage just altogether vanished.

 

I wonder if some NASA techie told them, "Reboot, that outta fix the problem."