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A comment on Astronauts escape malfunctioning Soyuz rocket. Parent comment

Re:Astronauts escape malfunctioning Soyuz rocket by JshWright on Thursday October 11, 2018 @03:51PM (#18196509)
They can't outstay the orbital lifespan of the capsule currently docked. They'll be leaving when it's time to leave (unless a new (empty) Soyuz is launched to replace it (something that has happened once before)).
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Re:Astronauts escape malfunctioning Soyuz rocket by mcv on Saturday October 13, 2018 @08:21AM (#18207608)
Yeah, from what I understand, the options are basically to either get a new return vehicle up there before December, or abandoning the station.

It's a bad situation to be in. The end of ISS is certainly an option. I don't think they'll ever let astronauts stay there with an expired return vehicle.

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Re:Astronauts escape malfunctioning Soyuz rocket by JshWright on Saturday October 13, 2018 @09:34AM (#18207845)
They might be willing to stretch it a little (but probably not much). The limiting factor is decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide used as propellant for the descent module. They can technically get down without it, but it would be a rougher (and riskier) ride.
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