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thewayneWell, they have a lot of problems, but this is a new one.
They're building a new crew module, and they have a BIG problem with its escape system in case of a launch phase abort. The design will result in it splashing down in the equatorial Pacific Ocean - OK, so far, so good. It's supposed to do something like that.
The problem is that the Russian Navy is so massively screwed up and under-funded that THEY DON'T HAVE ANY HIGH-SPEED SHIPS! It could take them FIVE DAYS to reach the capsule, which means everybody's dead.
Not much of a rescue system.
Of course, the U.S. Navy could easily rescue them if arrangements could be made, but the costs to have the USN on stand-by would be tremendous, and frankly, the Russians couldn't afford it.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/07/theres-a-slight-problem-with-russias-proposed-federation-spacecraft/
They're building a new crew module, and they have a BIG problem with its escape system in case of a launch phase abort. The design will result in it splashing down in the equatorial Pacific Ocean - OK, so far, so good. It's supposed to do something like that.
The problem is that the Russian Navy is so massively screwed up and under-funded that THEY DON'T HAVE ANY HIGH-SPEED SHIPS! It could take them FIVE DAYS to reach the capsule, which means everybody's dead.
Not much of a rescue system.
Of course, the U.S. Navy could easily rescue them if arrangements could be made, but the costs to have the USN on stand-by would be tremendous, and frankly, the Russians couldn't afford it.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/07/theres-a-slight-problem-with-russias-proposed-federation-spacecraft/
no subject
Date: 2019-07-16 04:01 pm (UTC)Or maybe SHIELD?
Pretty sure that I'm not joking. It's a consequence of moving from Baikonur to Vostochny that is pretty scary-nasty. I really don't like the idea of them having to choose between bankruptcy and dead cosmonauts.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-17 02:44 pm (UTC)It is quite a demonstration that Russia <> USSR, regardless of what Putin wants or thinks. Their navy is in a pretty sad state. They still have a tonne of nukes, but who knows what state they're in.
Their best bet overall, IMO, is an international shipping distress beacon and their anti-submarine air patrols. They should be able to get to the splash site fairly quickly and drop rafts & food, possibly divers, to help while waiting for any ship to get to them.
But regardless, this is going to cost face.