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Author
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Topic: Russia suspects sabotage for recent failures
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Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-10-2012 09:32 AM
   
A string of spectacular space failures has Russia suspecting outside influence, according to recent press coverage: "I don't want to blame anyone, but today there are powerful means to affect the trajectory of spacecraft, and we can't exclude that these have been deployed," Popovkin, head of Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, was quoted as saying by the Moscow-based newspaper. It will be interesting to learn whether the ongoing Phobos-Grunt investigation turns up any smoking guns in that regard. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-10-2012 12:57 PM
From the ABC News report linked above: "It is unclear why our setbacks often occur when the vessels are travelling though what for Russia is the 'dark' side of the Earth – in areas where we do not see the craft and do not receive its telemetry readings," the head of Russia's equivalent to NASA told the daily Izvestia newspaper. Doesn't this point more to a failure by Russia to deploy its own TDRSS-like constellation rather than foul play? Anyone know what percentage of the Earth is LOS for Russia's own comm systems? |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-10-2012 01:25 PM
The December launch of Luch 5A represents Russian efforts to reconstitute a TDRSS analog constellation. Its at 16W which opens coverage across most of the Atlantic, another bird is supposed to launch later this year to extend coverage over the IO and Pacific. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 01-10-2012 01:28 PM
Sounds like whipping up a case of paranoia to cover their failures. If somebody else with nefarious motives did it than it could not have been their failure. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 867
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 01-10-2012 06:30 PM
One would assume that the Russian military is still launching it's rockets/satellites. Are they having any of these issues? My understanding is that the Russian military sector has tougher oversight than the civilian sector. Does anyone know if this is correct? |
mikej
Member Posts: 481
From: Germantown, WI USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-10-2012 06:58 PM
 (For those not up on their Internet memes, see "Ancient Aliens" at knowyourmeme.com.) |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-10-2012 07:57 PM
That individual (and his show) epitomizes the decline of what was formally an excellent channel. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 01-11-2012 11:00 AM
I don't think it was sabotage, but the Russians love to interject little stuff like this into things to keep their people a little off balance. They love intrigue and hardship and they've done it since the Soviet days. Plus, Russian politicians and officials love to gossip about one another behind their backs it seems and to plant to rumor of an outside influence keeps the heat off their backs a little.Given that the failures experienced have been in different systems, to me that would not necessarily rule out sabotage, but it would make it less likely. |
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