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The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:17 am
by Mr Moofo
Much is being made of the two astronauts who have been stuck in the ISS for 9 months,
But how long have the other two that are with them been there?
They were sent personal items and clothes as they had got enough - how? Or do Amazon deliver to ISS?
And what about the 50% increase in food needed?
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:23 am
by KungFooBob
Pah, the ISS is a sound stage in Hollywood.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:28 am
by Count Steer
Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:17 am
Much is being made of the two astronauts who have been stuck in the ISS for 9 months,
But how long have the other two that are with them been there?
They were sent personal items and clothes as they had got enough - how? Or do Amazon deliver to ISS?
And what about the 50% increase in food needed?
I thought they got service flights that just bring 'stuff'. (SpaceX's 'Cargo Dragon' and Soyuz both deliver iirc).
Much has been made of them being 'stranded' but they could have come back at any time as there's a return module docked in case there's an issue. It was decided to bring them back as part of the normal rotation schedule rather than use the 'emergency' module.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:36 am
by Mr. Dazzle
Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:17 am
Or do Amazon deliver to ISS?
Their rocket doesn't quite work yet, but it did pretty well on it's first go.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 10:51 am
by Mr Moofo
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:28 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:17 am
Much is being made of the two astronauts who have been stuck in the ISS for 9 months,
But how long have the other two that are with them been there?
They were sent personal items and clothes as they had got enough - how? Or do Amazon deliver to ISS?
And what about the 50% increase in food needed?
I thought they got service flights that just bring 'stuff'. (SpaceX's 'Cargo Dragon' and Soyuz both deliver iirc).
Much has been made of them being 'stranded' but they could have come back at any time as there's a return module docked in case there's an issue. It was decided to bring them back as part of the normal rotation schedule rather than use the 'emergency' module.
All a bit of a non story
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 11:25 am
by Count Steer
Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 10:51 am
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:28 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:17 am
Much is being made of the two astronauts who have been stuck in the ISS for 9 months,
But how long have the other two that are with them been there?
They were sent personal items and clothes as they had got enough - how? Or do Amazon deliver to ISS?
And what about the 50% increase in food needed?
I thought they got service flights that just bring 'stuff'. (SpaceX's 'Cargo Dragon' and Soyuz both deliver iirc).
Much has been made of them being 'stranded' but they could have come back at any time as there's a return module docked in case there's an issue. It was decided to bring them back as part of the normal rotation schedule rather than use the 'emergency' module.
All a bit of a non story
Well, maybe. I'm sure there'll be a certain relief when they're safely back. The return journey isn't exactly hazard free!
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 12:15 pm
by Mr Moofo
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 11:25 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 10:51 am
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:28 am
I thought they got service flights that just bring 'stuff'. (SpaceX's 'Cargo Dragon' and Soyuz both deliver iirc).
Much has been made of them being 'stranded' but they could have come back at any time as there's a return module docked in case there's an issue. It was decided to bring them back as part of the normal rotation schedule rather than use the 'emergency' module.
All a bit of a non story
Well, maybe. I'm sure there'll be a certain relief when they're safely back. The return journey isn't exactly hazard free!
After 9 months in weightlessness I am guessing walking is a challenge ! And I guess they must smell funny as well

Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 12:38 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Apparently clothes in space stay clean for ages 'cause they don't really touch your body.
Or maybe being sealed in the same tin can with the same people farting the same farts for 9 months mean you don't notice BO.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 1:45 pm
by ZRX61
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:28 am
Much has been made of them being 'stranded' but they could have come back at any time as there's a return module docked in case there's an issue. It was decided to bring them back as part of the normal rotation schedule rather than use the 'emergency' module.
Musk offered to bring them back months ago, but Biden blocked it as he didn't want to give Musk the credit. This has been confirmed by the astronauts & NASA.. altho a NASA spokeshole waffled a bit when pressed on it this week.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:04 pm
by Count Steer
ZRX61 wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 1:45 pm
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:28 am
Much has been made of them being 'stranded' but they could have come back at any time as there's a return module docked in case there's an issue. It was decided to bring them back as part of the normal rotation schedule rather than use the 'emergency' module.
Musk offered to bring them back months ago, but Biden blocked it as he didn't want to give Musk the credit. This has been confirmed by the astronauts & NASA.. altho a NASA spokeshole waffled a bit when pressed on it this week.
It would have shaved a couple of months off and cost several $million. It was made to sound like SpaceX had one on the pad ready to go at 5 minutes notice. Doing it as part of a regular rotation was the simple and cost effective option.
Bit of a no-brainer from NASA really.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:20 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
They were never in real danger, as above they could have left at any time. As also above, it would have been a dedicated mission from SpaceX put on specially to get them back, which is very expensive and not needed.
So the 'story' while technically true in the details, glosses over a lot of the nuance.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:30 pm
by ZRX61
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:04 pm
It would have shaved a couple of months off and cost several $million.
It was made to sound like SpaceX had one on the pad ready to go at 5 minutes notice. Doing it as part of a regular rotation was the simple and cost effective option.
Bit of a no-brainer from NASA really.
Not much of a stretch, we've had 3 launches here so far this month & there are more scheduled. I don't think most people realize just how many Musk is putting up. There's one tomorrow, another one on Monday & another later in the month... but West Coast launches are usually for polar orbits.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:56 pm
by Count Steer
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:20 pm
They were never in real danger, as above they could have left at any time. As also above, it would have been a dedicated mission from SpaceX put on specially to get them back, which is very expensive and not needed.
So the 'story' while technically true in the details, glosses over a lot of the nuance.
I did wonder how long it takes to prepare a crew module and how many are available. While there's no apparent shortage of tail units and NASA/SpaceX have got the the turnaround time pretty slick I'd guess the crew units have a rather more rigorous prep than a Starlink cargo carrier.
I was a bit surprised to read that the time for the crew return is 17 hours - are they doing a couple of victory laps?

Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 4:41 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
There is, as you might imagine, quite a lot to it....but they can do it quicker.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 5:34 pm
by Count Steer
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 4:41 pm
There is, as you might imagine, quite a lot to it....but they
can do it quicker.
That's going up. It's taking 17 hours to get back down!
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 7:15 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Just watch the video backwards. At slow speed.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 10:22 pm
by ZRX61
They got greeted by Dolphins

Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 12:52 am
by Felix
Wonder if they have been faithful to their partners.
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 7:27 am
by Count Steer
Felix wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 12:52 am
Wonder if they have been faithful to their partners.
I'd have a badge made ''Mile High Club? Ptoui!'.
Nice touch having a 'Dolphin Debrief' on splashdown - report to the real bosses first.

(In the 'Uplift Universe' novels by David Brin, dolphins operate starships 'cos they're good at navigating 3D space. I expect they'd cope with zero g quite well too).
Re: The astronauts return ...
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 7:57 am
by Taipan
ZRX61 wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 1:45 pm
Count Steer wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:28 am
Much has been made of them being 'stranded' but they could have come back at any time as there's a return module docked in case there's an issue. It was decided to bring them back as part of the normal rotation schedule rather than use the 'emergency' module.
Musk offered to bring them back months ago, but Biden blocked it as he didn't want to give Musk the credit. This has been confirmed by the astronauts & NASA.. altho a NASA spokeshole waffled a bit when pressed on it this week.
Astronauts; "Euston we have a problem!"
Musk; "You want me to swing by and pick you guys up?"
Musk deffo wins bragging rights in the pub!
