Soyuz FG fails during ascent – Soyuz MS-10 crew safe after ballistic entry abort
The Russian federal space agency, Roscosmos, launched their Soyuz MS-10 crew vehicle with two new crewmembers that were set for the International Space Station. However, the launch – which took place on Thursday at 0840 UTC from Baikonur – failed a few minutes into flight. Soyuz MS-10 was then aborted on a ballistic entry, before safely landing downrange of the launch site.
The crewed Soyuz, which would normally ferry three people to the Station, was carrying a reduced crew complement as part of Russia's initiative to keep their total crew presence on Station to just two until the launch, late next year, of their primary science lab, Nauka.
However, those plans are unlikely to apply now Soyuz MS-10 has failed to arrive at the ISS, with the Soyuz FG likely to be grounded for some time as a State Commision invesigation[sic] takes place.
Also at The Verge, Reuters, and CNN, and CBS.
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Thursday October 11 2018, @08:15PM (1 child)
When is the soonest that a Dragon authorized for crew is able to get up there?
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Thursday October 11 2018, @08:22PM
Under the current plans, they would get there in June 2019:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_2#Flight_testing [wikipedia.org]
Given the major disruption that has just happened, that info may no longer be accurate.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]