Progress in trouble

[ZetaX]

At least it wasn't already on course to rendezvous with the ISS or in other word: on a collision course.

It's not like the way to reach ISS is to shoot it into an orbit which will hit ISS at high speed, then slow down at the last second. At a point where collision is a possible scenario, the relative speed is already low.

[Frida Space]

The next attempt to link with the spacecraft comes at 8:50 p.m. EDT Tuesday / 12:50 am UTC Thursday / 2:50 am CEST Thursday

[Albert VDS]

It's not like the way to reach ISS is to shoot it into an orbit which will hit ISS at high speed, then slow down at the last second. At a point where collision is a possible scenario, the relative speed is already low.

With "on course to rendezvous" I meant close to the ISS.

[ZetaX]

With "on course to rendezvous" I meant close to the ISS.

Then it is slow (as I said) and so again no problem.

[SubzeroSpartan7]

Is there a decent chance of regaining control?

At this point, probably not. Even if they did the craft can't make it to the ISS from what I understand. The only point now is so it doesn't make an uncontrolled re-entry.

[Kryten]

If they do achieve control-which is admittedly pretty doubtful-the automatic rendezvous should work fine, and then they can use the TORU manual backup system for docking. It's not lost yet.

[steve58]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/russian-cargo-ship-spinning-out-of-control-in-orbit-video/ Edited April 28, 2015 by steve58

[Dkmdlb]

If they do achieve control-which is admittedly pretty doubtful-the automatic rendezvous should work fine

Are you sure they have the resources for that? Aren't they kind of too late to do the maneuvers? They are out of the lane by so much as a boat length!

[Frida Space]

Latest update from Spaceflight101:

@ISS101: No new orbital data for Progress M-27M. Based on the initial orbit, the craft is under 18 hours from re-entry if no maneuver is made. #ISS

[vger]

My response to the video: weeeeeee!

No thanks. I shudder the thought of something like this happening on a manned spacecraft. Especially if for whatever reason, there wasn't enough RCS to recover.

[megatiger78]

needed more struts.

[Vanamonde]

Threads on the same subject have been merged.

[Reddragon]

It reminds me of a weird bug in KSP when for no reason if I switch off ASAS the craft starts to spin to a random direction. I haven't encountered it for a long time though.

[Kryten]

They will attempt to damp the spin using the manual TORU control system on the next pass.

[magnemoe]

Lemme guess? In the immortal words of Miriam Ferguson "If English is good enough for Jesus Christ, its good enough for you"?

N O T - S E R I O U S

LOL, worse then I checked your link and found she appeared to be an good politician. Not some airhead who get airtime because she had big boobs then then more airtime because hse had big boobs and previous airtime.

Next time it might be an Chinese probe with problems.

- - - Updated - - -

No thanks. I shudder the thought of something like this happening on a manned spacecraft. Especially if for whatever reason, there wasn't enough RCS to recover.

One benefit of manned flights is that they can take control. US program has some flights who has gone pear shaped.

[PakledHostage]

LOL, worse then I checked your link and found she appeared to be an good politician. Not some airhead who get airtime because she had big boobs then then more airtime because hse had big boobs and previous airtime.

For the record (in case it wasn't obvious to anyone) I was joking around just as much as Sigma88 was. That and it seems that the quote is falsely attributed to Miriam Ferguson anyway... According to the Wiki article, the quote is first recorded some time in the 1880s, well before Miriam Ferguson was in office.

[Bill Phil]

reminds me of certain "technical difficulties" I had with RemoteTech flight computer

------

also, the computer OS seems broken. displaying random symbols instead of words

N O T - S E R I O U S.

Well... it is a Russian spacecraft... and I would think Russians speak and write Russian.

On topic:

How many Progress launches to ISS in a year?

[sgt_flyer]

Well... it is a Russian spacecraft... and I would think Russians speak and write Russian.

On topic:

How many Progress launches to ISS in a year?

It's variable - current rates are a launch every 3 to 5 months.

And prior to today, all progress spacecraft have accomplished their missions except the progress M-12M in 2011 (the soyuz rocket upperstage had a malfunction for this one - so it was not a progress issue)

Now, progress use basically the same automated systems as the soyuz spacecraft - so there might be some serious verifications made before they attempt the next manned launch.

Edited April 28, 2015 by sgt_flyer

[Kryten]

The Russians have a policy of making sure they can fly the next Progress within 45 days, in case of issues like this. It's not intended to use the same launcher, so if this is ultimately the result of a launcher issue (as seems to be the Roscosmos working hypothesis) that should be fully able to go ahead.

[xXIndestructibleEVAXx]

Am I the only one thinking collision? Sensors go out on the right side, spinning- It makes sense (to me at least) that some sort of debris, whether a micro meteorite or satellite junk, clipped its right side and sent it tumbling. It's happened before.

[Kryten]

There's not likely to be much debris at that height; anything would decay within a couple of weeks at most.

[xXIndestructibleEVAXx]

Good point. Still, you never know. But you're probably right. It could have been an explosion or a fuel tank depressurization, or something of the likes.

[dryer_lint]

They didn't notice the 1.0 update, and their old ship spun out of control. Hopefully the next patch will fix that.

For now, though, they can just timewarp to stop the spin.

[Bioman222]

So, haven't checked in on here in a while. Is there any Progress?

Please, kill me now.

[Kryten]

Don't have full details yet, but last pass was 'fruitless'. So far it's turning out like Phobos-Grunt in miniature.