The Soyuz Crash: What does it mean for the ISS?

0
1081

On August 24 a supply vehicle headed to the International Space Station went down over Siberia due to a problem with the Soyuz rocket powering it. Which is a shame for all the goods lost, but more concerning is the fact that these rockets are the sole means to get astronauts up to the ISS now that the US space shuttles have been decommissioned. It will presumably be a while before humans are perched atop a Soyuz again due to safety fears, and some sources I’ve read have even suggested that it may be the beginning of the end of using them for manned space flight–which smacks to me of an excuse to start pulling out of the ISS altogether. Or will it be yet another push to get private industry to fill the vacuum left by the space shuttle and create vehicles capable of carrying humans into outer space?

If this topic interests you, come join us for the event on Sept 19th, “Human Spaceflight After the Shuttle“!

Previous articleFree study guide audio clips from Palgrave Macmillan
Next article“Macabre” pretty young females and the sexist media
Dr Jill Stuart is an academic based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is an expert in the politics, ethics and law of outer space exploration and exploitation. She is a frequent presence in the global media (print, radio, television, documentary) and regularly gives lectures around the world. From 2013-2017 she was Editor in Chief of the Elsevier journal Space Policy where she remains on the Editorial Board. She is also on the Board of Advisors of METI International, conducting scientific research into messaging potential extraterrestrial intelligence. She is one of an elite number of people to be endorsed by the UK Home Office as an Exceptional Talent Migrant/ World Leader in her Field. In 2015 she was awarded the prestigious Margaret Mead Award Lecture by the British Science Association in recognition of her cutting edge research. She is trained in both domestic and international mediation and has done consultancy work for the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. She has a sub-specialism in women, peace and security and gender based violence. She is a Trustee of Luton All Women’s Centre.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here