Expedition 34 Launches

1. Someday I will tell my grandkids I watched this launch on my telephone.

   1. I suspect your grandparents would be more impressed than your grandkids.

2. I saw that they launched in zero degrees of F with a 30 degree below zero F wind chill.  That is one robust launching system!
   I wonder what launch temp requirements that Space X, et al are working for their missions.

3. Such a robust spacecraft or the Soviets take risk. This kind of weather would scrub launches here in the U.S.

   1. Well, since there are no launch facilities in the US that have that sort of weather with any regularity, then it is more likely a moot point for the planned manned US launchers, and the weather requirements on them.  Although, the New Mexico site planned for suborbital “airplane type” rides probably does get some pretty cold and windy days.

      I am fairly sure that the term “Soviets” pretty well died back in the 1990s.  We have agreements with Russia and “Russians” to launch Americans (and Canadians, among others) to the ISS.

      The historical record for the Soviets and the Russians would lead more to a belief in a robust system as opposed to risk taking.  Risk taking infers to me that there will be failures on occasion.  While the Soviets lost people in space flights, I do not remember that the launches have been the real problem.  

      Of course – my memory and knowledge are not as good as folks like say Mr. Oberg, or possibly Mr. Hudson, and others.  The list of failures for the manned space programs around the world is fortunately relatively short compared to the the list of successes.  Again – I defer to Mr. Oberg’s or Mr. Hudson’s knowledge.

      1. There is a launch facility on Kodiak Island, Alaska. I don’t know if there has ever been a winter launch, though.

         Addendum: And of course there is Fort Greely at Delta Junction, Alaska that has a goodly share of the nation’s anti-missile defense system. *Those* missiles had better be able to launch on demand when it is 30 below or worse out.

         1. Thanks for that reminder.  I have seen photos from some of those Alalska winter launches, and I think there was an article about it in Air/Space mag awhile back.  No “manned” launches though.

            1. The Russians were talking several years ago about building a new launch facility somewhere near Vladivostok. Not only would it be a bit warmer there but it would allow them a more equatorial orbital inclination instead of the north east over Siberia launch that they must presently do from Kazakhstan. But…. this is Mother Russia we are talking about, she moves in her own time. Why mess with success?

            2. Guys,

               If the move to reusable LVs happens, then the next logical move is to be able to launch a package from a compatible pad “anywhere,” instead of shipping everything “home” for the next launch.  So, things like weather and wind considerations may become important for everybody.

               Steve

4. A notable launch in that it is carrying the first Canadian to command a spaceship, Chris Hadfield.  That will be in March when Expedition 35 begins. An impressive milestone for a country which has made many important contributions to space exploration.

5. I for one have the greatest of respect and admiration for the old R-7 Soyuz booster system. That family is somewhere north of 1800 launches now. The beast burns stove oil in five big engines blown thru 20 zero stage- first stage nozzles. It also uses good old fashioned hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen gas helpers. When ignited, Soyuz  ramps up slow like a locomotive building up a head of steam, flames roaring away in all directions, then it just goes off into the sky after a while . This latest launch went off in some severe winter weather…a -30° F wind chill . Other Soyuz crew have gone off in near blizzards. Yet this same booster can launch from the tropical jungles of South America. Let’s hoist a Stoly for the virtues of kerosene , lox,  and stoic Russians and their metallurgical  pravda.

   Soyuz will still be flying 75 years after it first broke sky.

   1. What a picture – a locomotive going straight up!

   2. When you consider that the original R-7 design grew out of the German V2 (A4) design, it’s even more incredible.  I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that something to which both von Braun and Korelev contributed turned out to be a winner.

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