Russia’s passive-aggressive reaction to SpaceX may mask a deeper truth
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
One of the big questions surrounding the first launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft was how the Russians would react. They have held considerable sway in the International Space Station partnership by controlling access to the orbiting laboratory since the 2011 retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle. So far, the Russian response has been one of throwing small bits of shade here and there but trying not to be too obvious about it.
On Sunday, when SpaceX's D ragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station, the Russian space corporation sequestered cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko in the Russian segment of the station. This was, Roscosmos said, so that Kononenko could take emergency action in case the Dragon became uncontrollable and crashed into the space station.
After the successful docking, Roscosmos tweeted a Russian language congratulation to NASA, but underscored the fact "that flight safety must be above reproach." An hour later it published a rare tweet in English, sending "its sincere compliments to the colleagues from NASA," but without the emphasis on vehicle safety. Neither tweet mentioned SpaceX. (Later, Roscosmos said NASA ordered the ship and, therefore, deserved the congratulations.)
On Monday, the Russian space corporation tweeted again, sharing pictures of Kononenko, NASA's Anne McClain, and Canadian David Saint-Jacques in their protective masks before entering the Dragon. (This was a safety precaution with the new vehicle visiting.) It wanted readers to know that the mission had made history another way. "For the first time in the history of the station, the crew worked in Russian-made IPK gas masks," the tweet stated.
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The Russians were a bit pissy about the SpaceX mission approved by NASA and criticized roundly by Vadim Lukashevich, a Russian-based space expert. He was fired from an aerospace think tank at Skolkovo in 2015 after writing articles opposing the transformation of Roscosmos from a government agency into a state corporation.
At least some can say it is Musk's greed that provides some proof that capitalism often prevails over government programs.
Astronauts on The Space Station Liked SpaceX's 'Earthy' Toy So Much They Kidnapped It
Sounds like Russia is just pissed about losing the monopoly on space transport we handed them when we retired the space shuttle. The fact that the SpaceX capsule is a totally better system just makes it worse to them. I guess they will get over it.
The guy can build a rocket delivery system that is about 90% reusable, including booster rockets that return to the launch pad automatically,
but he can't keep his stories straight with the SEC or deliver the $35K car he's promised for years
while waffling on whether or not he wants to keep his showrooms open.
I saw one in the trendy SouthGate Texas shopping "mall" and it was a storefront no bigger than the high end dress shops all around it.
Weird place for a car showroom with one car for sale.
Idiot savant, maybe?
building rockets and keeping your stories straight with the SEC are mutually exclusive
Well, nobody's perfect...
Saying that about Russia is like saying a bond villain is just "misunderstood". The only thing Putin is missing to complete his desired fantasy character as head of Spectre is a long scar across his face and actual intelligence. Putin's a petty little dumb shit dictator but he's still twice as brilliant as our own Manchurian moron.
My comment was a tongue in cheek reply to SP about Tesla, not Russia.
I still think that it is amazing that Tesla is doing this and also equally disappointed that our government has given up on space, especially just when the Chinese are getting interested.
It is like we decided to take a back seat.
I don't see how they can even imagine a "space force" without a way to even get people into space.
Bingo !
"excuse us you commie bastards, can our new military hitch a ride"?
Hahaha
When they say no, maybe China? I'm sure they would be thrilled at the prospect.
I never understood the deep space missions. Unless they can get to another solar system, we will just have craft drifting in empty space.
Even for things like exploration, I would think it would be better to get a moon station set up for such projects.
As stated in the earlier article, China has opted to abandon it's Soviet rocketry and go bigger and bolder
to launch up to 6 modules that will be assembled in space as the new Chinese Space Station.