Imadope_1960 t1_j1ftk33 wrote
Reply to comment by Vagabond_Grey in Russia may need to send a rescue mission to the International Space Station for 3 astronauts after a leak in their Soyuz capsule by A_Lazko
Dropping down a couple hundred miles from space requires an actual capsule, you can't just float down 250 miles and pull the parachute chord.
Vagabond_Grey t1_j1fxvyp wrote
Yes I know. But take a ride on the damaged capsule to the point where one could jump out from it. IMHO, it's better they send a new capsule to pick them up.
DarthBrooks69420 t1_j1gfhty wrote
The deceleration from entering the atmosphere produces heat. The systems that are damaged is the external cooling that dissipates the heat (I think).
You can't just reenter the atmosphere at that speed without something to absorb and shed that heat. If the astronauts just tried to parachute back to earth they would be vaporized.
Gazza_s_89 t1_j1hdz3y wrote
But its a catch 22, to slow the capsule to a speed where the astronauts wouldn't jump out and become human missiles travelling several km per second, the coolant system will have to do the bulk of the work regardless.
Vagabond_Grey t1_j1ipgi6 wrote
I was under the impression that these capsules had enough propellant onboard to slow itself down without relying on the atmosphere to do it.
EvilNalu t1_j1jidpb wrote
Not even close. They slow down just enough to start reentry. Generally around 1% of their orbital velocity. They lose the other 99% by using the atmosphere.
RhesusFactor t1_j1h845q wrote
Spacecraft like soyuz are not designed or built for you to be able to jump out of them. Cosmonauts are also typically fairly weak after extended stays in microgravity so won't be doing stunts on reentry. There are also no parachutes aboard the ISS.
Vagabond_Grey t1_j1iodz2 wrote
Yes I know there are no parachutes on the ISS. My initial idea was to have the astronauts wait for the next resupply with them along with any required equipment. This is assuming the next resupply isn't too far off away before any permanent health damage sets in.
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