Buzz Aldrin Evacuated from S. Pole on Soviet Era IL-76

[Jonfliesgoats]

The world is strange.  A Soviet era plane evacuated an American Astronaut from the South Pole.  The Company operating the airplane is a joint Ukrainian-Russian firm that manages to look past the war in Donetsk.  To be fair, these same IL-76s have been operating in and out of NATO facilities in Afghanistan for the last fifteen years, which has its own poignancy.

An optimist would say science, flight and humanity transcends geopolitics.

A pessimist would say profit and public relations transcend geopolitics.

 

Link to an article with photos of Aldrin by the contracted IL-76, presumably on his way south in good health:

http://heavy.com/news/2016/12/buzz-aldrin-health-south-pole-why-evacuated-still-alive-sick-second-man-moon-2016-wife-family-age-old-antarctica-depression-alcoholic/

Edited December 3, 2016 by Jonfliesgoats

[Nibb31]

I don't know what the nationality of the plane has got to do with anything.

We all wish well to Buzz.

[Jonfliesgoats]

History and Politics.  East-West relations are at a nadir right now and we are using Russian planes to evacuate American astronauts from the S. Pole.  Beyond this the plane itself is being operated by entities on opposing side of a war.  In years past this would not have been possible.  AN AMC asset would have been assigned to the movement of these folks.

[Nibb31]

Since the dawn of maritime law, there's always been a tradition of assisting and rescue people from other countries when necessary, regardless of their nationality, including during wars.

Even at the height of the Cold War (which has been over for nearly 30 years now BTW). Many countries, including the US, offered assistance to help the sailors of the Kursk or to help with Cherobyl. It's SOP.

At any rate, the Antarctic, like space, has always been an area of peaceful international cooperation.

[Jonfliesgoats]

Very well said!  There is also a maritime tradition of meritocracy and innovation, but that is a discussion for another thread.

For discussion's sake I would point out that this plane is on a long term contract to support US research stations in Antarctica.  Volga-Dnepr, a Russian company has long-standing relationships with Kiev for spare parts.  So this was not a last minute contract to rescue Buzz.  This event highlights that the logistics to support Western research in Antarctica has transcended geopolitics for some time.

I also bring this up because there is clearly a desire to reduce our dependency on the Russians for manned spaceflight.  Russia for their part has occasionally cited our dependence on Soyuz capsules for the ISS when relations get tense.  Politics and the ISS can get murkier than we'd like.

Does human goodwill get us to work together or do economics and profits reaching the right pockets keep these programs running?  In either case, it's nice to see this.

[Scotius]

47 minutes ago, Nibb31 said:

Since the dawn of maritime law, there's always been a tradition of assisting and rescue people from other countries when necessary, regardless of their nationality, including during wars.

Even at the height of the Cold War (which has been over for nearly 30 years now BTW). Many countries, including the US, offered assistance to help the sailors of the Kursk or to help with Cherobyl. It's SOP.

At any rate, the Antarctic, like space, has always been an area of peaceful international cooperation.

Fun, and heartwarming fact: Back in the XVIII century, in the middle of a bitter war with Great Britain, French government not only expressly forbidden their Navy from attacking ships of James Cook expedition. They also ordered their warships to aid British explorer if he would need it, because "His discoveries benefit the all of humankind."

[Jonfliesgoats]

That's a really cool fact, Scotius!

[Green Baron]

It's far more than tradition, it's international law to aid those in distress.

 

A problem is in fact that too many people set out sailing, adventuring whatever and come in a situation where they can't help themselves anymore and then send out a distress signal. Many of those aren't really in distress. A broken mast on the Atlantic ocean is no distress, nor is running out of fuel in the Mediterranean. I was sailing for quit a few years and have heard really funny things on the radio (English sailor to a wimpy Italian who run out of fuel south of Sicilia "Shut up and die like a man !"). But i have heard sad things well ...

Hope this isn't too far off topic. Am glad Mr. Aldrin is safe.

 

[_Augustus_]

8 hours ago, Scotius said:

Fun, and heartwarming fact: Back in the XVIII century, in the middle of a bitter war with Great Britain, French government not only expressly forbidden their Navy from attacking ships of James Cook expedition. They also ordered their warships to aid British explorer if he would need it, because "His discoveries benefit the all of humankind."

That's just awesome.