Keeping the blogosphere posted on the goings on of the world of submarines since late 2004... and mocking and belittling general foolishness wherever it may be found. Idaho's first and foremost submarine blog. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me; don't call me at home.)

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Submarine Science Missile Launch Successful

I was actually kind of worried about this. A Russian Delta-III launched the international "solar sail" in a "converted ICBM" earlier today. I mean, the experiment is pretty neat, and there are worse things the Russian SSBNs could be launching -- I was honestly concerned for the safety of the crew. Anytime you have to launch a "converted" anything you know you're possibly in for a bad time...

Update 2212 21 June: Looks like although the launch was safely accomplished, the solar sail didn't communicate after it was supposed to reach orbit. CBC reports that:

"After 83 seconds, the engine of the booster rocket stopped working and the spacecraft did not enter orbit," the official said on condition of anonymity. He added that a search was underway for the solar sail and the Volna booster rocket and an investigation would study what went wrong.
"Lidia Avdeyeva, a spokeswoman for the Lavochkin institute involved in the project, told The Associated Press she could not confirm the information but said that if the engine had failed then the vehicle would have fallen back to Earth."


Update 2239 21 June: CDR Salamander has more, plus a periscope ID quiz! (It's already been answered in his comments, so don't look there until you've got your own answer.) Maybe he'll do Mental Gym next... (Contact bears 140. Closing range rate is 900 yards per minute. You are on course 180, speed 10. Bearing rate zero. Determine contact course and speed...)

2 Comments:

Blogger chaoticsynapticactivity said...

Possibly, and maybe especially if you're in the military of a nation with pretty serious financial problems, too...

The real agenda of this comment is to tag you with the collective mind input from Yankee Sailor.

I wrote my comments, and I bet you have some good ones, too...

You're it! The meme format is here!

6/21/2005 4:16 PM

 
Blogger Bubblehead said...

My completed homework is here...

6/21/2005 10:27 PM

 

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