It’s not really acting. They have been left behind.
But, while I like Sandy, this kind of thing continues to drive me crazy.
Oh, Sandy. Is there anyone out there who thinks it's at all important to end our dependence on Putin to get our astronauts into space? https://t.co/dv1IhziJQc
— SafeNotAnOption (@SafeNotAnOption) March 7, 2019
Assuming the current Dragon mission, and then the in-flight abort, go well, should we theoretically then have manned US space flight capability again?
I’m also wondering how long after the manned DM-2 mission (assuming it’s successful) it will be before NASA switches over from Soyuz to US spacecraft? From what I’m hearing, it will be awhile.
I’m also wondering about Gateway, assuming it’s ever built. I’ve seen absolutely nothing from NASA about even thinking of using Dragon 2 or CST-100 for Gateway missions. Therefor, if that holds, when NASA pulls out of ISS and switches over to Gateway, that’s the end of commercial crew. Am I overly paranoid in thinking they see this as a feature?
Obi wan Bigelow, you are almost our only hope.
For the Russians the capsules are not a major priority.
They are having too much work as it is getting the new launchers, launch sites, etc working.
If the ISS, for some reason, gets de-orbited and they collaborate with the Chinese on their space station things might change.
Just look at the Soyuz launcher for example. They have so many variations in development that I’m hard pressed to know where the launcher design is headed. Angara, they build new production facilities, but it’s still not in use. In the meanwhile the Soyuz launcher is becoming more effective so the rationale for Angara keeps becoming flimsier.
But if you think the Russians couldn’t make something like the Dragon V2 if they wanted to, well, you’re smoking something.
With regards to “nothing happened”.
The Russians built a launch pad in Vostochny. They have developed the lightweight Soyuz-2.1v launcher. They have developed the RD-193 engine.