Rescue of untethered astronaut or cosmonaut at ISS
If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?
eva
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
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If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?
eva
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
add a comment |
If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?
eva
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?
eva
eva
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
asked Dec 11 '18 at 22:52
dualredlaugh
22815
22815
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.
The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)
If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
– Uwe
Dec 11 '18 at 23:34
6
@Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
– Russell Borogove
Dec 12 '18 at 0:48
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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oldest
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votes
Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.
The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)
If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
– Uwe
Dec 11 '18 at 23:34
6
@Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
– Russell Borogove
Dec 12 '18 at 0:48
add a comment |
Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.
The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)
If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
– Uwe
Dec 11 '18 at 23:34
6
@Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
– Russell Borogove
Dec 12 '18 at 0:48
add a comment |
Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.
The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)
If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.
The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)
If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
answered Dec 11 '18 at 23:20
Russell Borogove
82.6k2276358
82.6k2276358
But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
– Uwe
Dec 11 '18 at 23:34
6
@Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
– Russell Borogove
Dec 12 '18 at 0:48
add a comment |
But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
– Uwe
Dec 11 '18 at 23:34
6
@Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
– Russell Borogove
Dec 12 '18 at 0:48
But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
– Uwe
Dec 11 '18 at 23:34
But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
– Uwe
Dec 11 '18 at 23:34
6
6
@Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
– Russell Borogove
Dec 12 '18 at 0:48
@Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
– Russell Borogove
Dec 12 '18 at 0:48
add a comment |
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