Progress 52 Launches to the ISS
Russian Soyuz Progress Resupply Mission Launches to the ISS [Watch], SpaceRef
“At 4:45:08 p.m. ET a Russian Soyuz Progress resupply spacecraft (#52) launched on a quick trip to the International Space Station with a docking scheduled for 10:26 p.m. ET.
The Progress 52 is carrying 2.8 tonnes of supplies, hardware, fuel and water to the Space Station. Included is a hastily put together repair kit for Luca Parmitano’s spacesuit which began filling up with water during his July 16 spacewalk. The spacewalk was aborted after 1 hour 32 minutes into a 6 1/2 hour scheduled spacewalk. Subsequently to the problem NASA has convened a Spacewalk Mishap Investigation Board.”
Here’s a story with much left unsaid. Why is this quick approach laudatory? Why hasn’t it been done before? Are there safety issues or technical issues or simply an ‘abundance of caution’ forcing a 4 day approach?
I think this NASASpaceFlight article from 2012 has just what you’re looking for: http://www.nasaspaceflight….
Exactly so. Thanks.
Actually not new at all. The U.S. took this approach to SkyLab launches.
From AmericaSpace.com, A Sick Crew and A Sick Ship: The Trials of Skylab 3 (Part 2) (http://www.americaspace.com…
“The astronauts’ first view of Skylab had come at a distance of more than 400 miles, and docking occurred a little under nine hours into the
mission.”
Glad to see the progress made it with no more unintended in flight propellant offloading