NationStates Jolt Archive

COMMENTARY: Congratulations to all our Bazilian friends! A Russian/Brazilian/American crew rides a Russian rocket to the International Space Station. Wow! Words fail me. :)


Crew Lifts Off for Space Station (http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,92678,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl)


Associated Press | March 30, 2006
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Russian Soyuz rocket streaked into the skies over the Central Asian steppe on Thursday, launching a U.S.-Russian-Brazilian crew on a mission to the international space station.

Russian Pavel Vinogradov and American Jeffrey Williams were to stay on board the station for about six months. Brazil's first man in space, Marcos C. Pontes, will stay at the station for nine days before returning to Earth on April 9 with the station's current crew of Russian Valery Tokarev and American Bill McArthur.

Officials monitoring the launch at Russian Mission Control outside Moscow held their applause until the spacecraft reached near-Earth orbit, about 10 minutes after its 6:30 a.m. (9:30 p.m. EST Wednesday) launch.

A video camera aboard the craft showed Pontes wearing a wide smile, giving a thumbs-up and pointing to the Brazilian flag on the left arm of his spacesuit.

At Baikonur, a crowd of about 150 relatives of the crew, space officials and journalists craned their necks to follow the trajectory of the rocket after its ground-shaking liftoff into the bright morning sky.

"It was very emotional. I can't even explain how I feel - very, very happy," Pontes' wife Fatima said.

"I was crying during the launch because his dream came true," chimed in the couple's 15-year-old daughter, Ana.

NASA official Kirk Shireman said the 13th mission to the space station was "getting off to a good start."

"They'll expand to a three-man crew when the (U.S.) shuttle returns in July," he said. "It's a new beginning for the space station."

Pontes said Wednesday that he was taking both a flag and a soccer jersey into orbit in hopes it would bring his Latin American nation's team victory in the World Cup.

"I am taking the Brazilian flag - the most important thing that I am taking," he told reporters. "Actually, I am going with the flag, not the flag going with me."

The Soyuz TMA 8 spacecraft is due to dock at the station early Saturday. Vinogradov, who is the commander of the crew, said they would carry out over 65 scientific experiments during the mission, including some to test human reaction to prolonged space travel.

Vinogradov and Williams later were to be joined by European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, of Germany, when the space shuttle Discovery visits the space station in July. Once Reiter arrives, the station's long-duration crew will be three in number for the first time since May 2003, following the Columbia disaster that February.

The American space program has depended on the Russians for cargo and astronaut delivery to the space station since the Columbia explosion. The shuttle Discovery visited the station in July but had problems with the foam insulation on its external fuel tank.

Williams praised the cooperation between the Russians and the Americans, saying the two countries were united by the common vision of space exploration and by the goal of keeping a permanent presence in orbit following the Columbia accident.

"I think the partnership is stronger because of it," he said.

Vinogradov said that, in space cooperation, the Russians and Americans "have learned to work together."

Pontes began training in 1998 in the United States and had been scheduled to fly to the space station aboard a U.S. space shuttle. But those plans were scrapped after the Columbia explosion and Brazil opened talks with Russia about having Pontes travel on a Russian rocket.

During a November 2004 visit to Brazil, Russian President Vladimir Putin also agreed that Russia would help Brazil resume its space program and restore its launch base, which was destroyed by a 2003 rocket explosion that killed 21 people.

Besides the flag, Pontes said he would take up a jersey for his soccer-mad nation, which has won the quadrennial international championship five times. With optimism, he predicted it would honor the "six-time champions of the world, the Brazilian football team."

The World Cup finals take place in Germany later this year.

Hopefully we'll all be able to do it soon. :D

Apparently Virgin is in talks with William Shatner about the possibility of him being one of the first 'space tourists' on their spacecraft thingymebob.

When I saw the thread title, I thought maybe it was a story about a waxing in orbit. :p

When I saw the thread title, I thought maybe it was a story about a waxing in orbit. :p
Carisbrooke, I officially love you. :p
I was totally debating with myself if I should really reply just to say that, when I saw you already had. Hehe.

When I saw the thread title, I thought maybe it was a story about a waxing in orbit. :p

Carisbrooke, I officially love you.
I was totally debating with myself if I should really reply just to say that, when I saw you already had. Hehe.
Shame on both of you. Dirty minds! :p

When I saw the thread title, I thought maybe it was a story about a waxing in orbit. :p

DAMN YOU, that was my initial impression.

And I was going to make a gross quip about pubes floating around in the weightless capsule...

Hopefully we'll all be able to do it soon. :D

Apparently Virgin is in talks with William Shatner about the possibility of him being one of the first 'space tourists' on their spacecraft thingymebob.
Thus it begins. The opening rounds in the commercialization of space, which will springboard the entire human race into space exploration. W00t!

Carisbrooke, I officially love you. :p
I was totally debating with myself if I should really reply just to say that, when I saw you already had. Hehe.
Shame on you both! :p

*throws a party for the whole crew and for all 3 nations*

Thus it begins. The opening rounds in the commercialization of space, which will springboard the entire human race into space exploration. W00t!
I wouldn't hold my breath. When you look at depictions of the future from decades ago, they seemed to think that we'd all be travelling around in flying cars by the year 2000. As usual it's going to be a load of hype and nothing gets done. And even if they do get round to widespread space tourism sometime I doubt any of us will be alive to see it.

I wouldn't hold my breath. When you look at depictions of the future from decades ago, they seemed to think that we'd all be travelling around in flying cars by the year 2000. As usual it's going to be a load of hype and nothing gets done. And even if they do get round to widespread space tourism sometime I doubt any of us will be alive to see it.
Uh ... I just said it was beginning, not that I would be able to vist Mars any time soon. :p

I wouldn't hold my breath. When you look at depictions of the future from decades ago, they seemed to think that we'd all be travelling around in flying cars by the year 2000. As usual it's going to be a load of hype and nothing gets done. And even if they do get round to widespread space tourism sometime I doubt any of us will be alive to see it.
The pace that technological advances are coming at the moment, I would actually be more surprised if it doesn't happen in our life times. Space travel isn't sci-fi, it's very real; and as such, this is a simplification of an existing process rather than the invention of some far out new idea.

Uh ... I just said it was beginning, not that I would be able to vist Mars any time soon. :p
Hehe, seems I got a little ahead of myself there. I'm a bit of a pessimist and I have a habit of spoiling people's fantasies. :D

Carisbrooke, I officially love you. :p
I was totally debating with myself if I should really reply just to say that, when I saw you already had. Hehe.

Well...:fluffle:...thank you!

Too good to miss really wasn't it? Space based bikini waxing is the new thing darrrling...didn't you know? My friend Nevile had a BS&C and said it was out of this world as he floated about with his privates covered in hot wax. ;)

I have a habit of spoiling people's fantasies. :D

You mean I'm not going to get a threesome with Jessica Alba and Keria Knightly? Damn you -Somewhere-!

*shakes fist at sky*

Shame on you both! :p

You have to know that you have done something wrong when I agree with Eut :p

You have to know that you have done something wrong when I agree with Eut :p

I have no shame...you can't make me either....:p

*moons AB AND Eut*

:cool:

The World Cup finals take place in Germany later this year.I find it extremely sad that this would have to be pointed out to anyone.

What took you so long, Brazil?
30 years after the likes of Prunariu and Pham Tuan... that's just sad.

What took you so long, Brazil?
30 years after the likes of Prunariu and Pham Tuan... that's just sad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_astronauts_by_nationality

Every single one of those men, up until Yang Liwei of China, was aboard a U.S. or Soviet/Russian craft.

It's not Brazil's fault that the superpowers never bothered to bring along a Brazilian. Although I agree it's pretty sad that Mongolia had a man in space before Brazil did, but it's hardly Brazil's fault.

NASA Administrator #1: Gah, it's time to bring along another foreigner.
NASA Administrator #2: Hang on, let me see...*throws dart at map*, oh the Brazilians finally get to go. Super.

During a November 2004 visit to Brazil, Russian President Vladimir Putin also agreed that Russia would help Brazil resume its space program and restore its launch base, which was destroyed by a 2003 rocket explosion that killed 21 people.

That accident really was a setback for Brazil, which might very well have become the fourth nation to send it's own manned vehicle into space had that explosion not occured. :(

thats great and all but America was the 1st in space. I wonder why it took them so long to catch up.

thats great and all but America was the 1st in space. I wonder why it took them so long to catch up.

Sorry, hate to break it to you, but...the Russians beat you guys to it.

thats great and all but America was the 1st in space. I wonder why it took them so long to catch up.

Do you ever read the threads you post in?

More importantly, have you ever even opened a history book?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_astronauts_by_nationality

Every single one of those men, up until Yang Liwei of China, was aboard a U.S. or Soviet/Russian craft.

It's not Brazil's fault that the superpowers never bothered to bring along a Brazilian. Although I agree it's pretty sad that Mongolia had a man in space before Brazil did, but it's hardly Brazil's fault.

NASA Administrator #1: Gah, it's time to bring along another foreigner.
NASA Administrator #2: Hang on, let me see...*throws dart at map*, oh the Brazilians finally get to go. Super.
And what's different this time? Does it say anywhere that Brazil is building spaceships? It's still Russian handouts.

Sorry, hate to break it to you, but...the Russians beat you guys to it.
Didn't you hear, Yuri Gagaren(sp) was actually a CIA spy and all the german rocket technology that formed the basis of all the serious space researchw as actually american...

And what's different this time? Does it say anywhere that Brazil is building spaceships? It's still Russian handouts.

Russia negotiated with Brazil in '91, and gained use of the base for the purposes of launching satellites. Obviously, they have an interest in the facility, and I'm sure the Russians are happy to pass some of the cost onto someone else whenever possible.

The explosion at Alcantara occured one week before a scheduled launch that would have made Brazil the first South American nation to put a satellite into space independently. The explosion destroyed the rocket, the satellites, the launch pad (!) and killed 21 technicians, who would obviously need to be replaced.

They weren't to the point where they were building manned craft, but once they started to successfuly launch their own satellites, that was obviously the next logical step.

Brazil now cooperates in its space program with Canada, the European Space Agency (ESA), Russia, France, and especially China. They have to get "handouts" from someone...only the big three (US/Russia/China) have the money and the infastructure to maintain an independent space program...and Russia is iffy.

First Brazilian in space!

Yeah? Well, it's a start at least. Only 186,112,793 brazilians left to go!

But who's going to organize the Carnival when all the brazilians are in space? :(

:p

I just can't see the point in this... I mean, it not like Brazilian government had too much money and better thing to waste it in! When you have sent a man to the space (Gagarin) and then to another rock floating in space (Armstrong), what else do you have to prove? That it can be done again? Re-inventing the powder, that's what this is.

On a bigger perspective, I think this whole space fuzzle should be limited a bit. We have this planet to look after, millions dying due the starvation and the global warming coming in the very near future, deforestation and whatever. Yet billions after billions are spent in shit like this.

Just now?? Thats strange, doesn't like every nation have a space program today??

Just now?? Thats strange, doesn't like every nation have a space program today??
No. Out of the EU countries France, Germany and Italy have their own national space agencies, and they have hardly done anything in comparison to the US or Russians. And these days these agencies tend to work in cooperation with the European Space Agency. Even Britain doesn't have it's own space agency, which is a relief because it would be a huge waste of taxpayers' money. But I know this government is chucking a few million at the ESA white elephant for their missions.

No. Out of the EU countries France, Germany and Italy have their own national space agencies, and they have hardly done anything in comparison to the US or Russians. And these days these agencies tend to work in cooperation with the European Space Agency. Even Britain doesn't have it's own space agency, which is a relief because it would be a huge waste of taxpayers' money. But I know this government is chucking a few million at the ESA white elephant for their missions.
I know. I was simply exaggerating. :)

I know. I was simply exaggerating. :)
Hmm.... I think that sarcasm detector of mine needs a service.

Sorry, hate to break it to you, but...the Russians beat you guys to it.

Wasn't it Yuri Gagarin (sp?) that was the 1st in space?

I just can't see the point in this... I mean, it not like Brazilian government had too much money and better thing to waste it in! When you have sent a man to the space (Gagarin) and then to another rock floating in space (Armstrong), what else do you have to prove? That it can be done again? Re-inventing the powder, that's what this is.

On a bigger perspective, I think this whole space fuzzle should be limited a bit. We have this planet to look after, millions dying due the starvation and the global warming coming in the very near future, deforestation and whatever. Yet billions after billions are spent in shit like this.

OK. The point in developing our own space program was that we happen to be one of the few countries that are situated on the equator. Alcantara is 2 degrees South of the equator, which means that any vehicle launched there gains the advantage of almost the maximum angular momentum available from the planet. Now this means that there is a demand for using this site as a launch base (It means you need less fuel to reach escape velocity as you start off going faster) We could simply lease the site to other nations to launch tehir equipment, or we could develop our own launch unit and then charge per kilo that we put into space. The costng showed that we would be able to severely undercut the NASA/China/ESA/Russia prices for this. Additionally the project would fund development of our high technology sector.

Then the damn rocket blew up in the storage hanger next to the launch pad. (It appears to have been human error, as is nearly always the case). The program is now back up and running, but it is not funded in the same extravagant way as NASA for example, so it is slow going.

Wasn't it Yuri Gagarin (sp?) that was the 1st in space?

Yes it was, he was a Russian.

Hopefully we'll all be able to do it soon. :D

Apparently Virgin is in talks with William Shatner about the possibility of him being one of the first 'space tourists' on their spacecraft thingymebob.
You know that once he his weightlessness he's gonna go KHAN! http://www.sternis-smiley.net/khan.gif

Yes it was, he was a Russian.

No kidding. And here I thought it was the mercury program that was 1st? :rolleyes:

I already knew he was a russing dude. That was why I said what I said.

No kidding. And here I thought it was the mercury program that was 1st? :rolleyes:

I already knew he was a russing dude. That was why I said what I said.

Sorry Corny - The second phrase was directed at UN abassadorship not you.

Sorry Corny - The second phrase was directed at UN abassadorship not you.

I know I know! He deserves it too

I have been in space....*nods* I have....probably. I have been in B&Q and thats got a LOT of space. *nods more*

A Brazillian in space? That's a lot.

How much is a Brazillian again? And where's they get enough rockets?

A Brazillian in space? That's a lot.

How much is a Brazillian again? And where's they get enough rockets?

Hey I didn't realise That the President was an NSer....lmao

Hey I didn't realise That the President was an NSer....lmao

I can't be the President. I used proper punctuation and only had 1 typo.

Don't make me have to use a nook-yuler weapon on you.

Don't make me have to use a nook-yuler weapon on you.

I will go hide in Wales and then you won't know where the hell I am and so wont be able to Nook-yulerise me :p

I will go hide in Wales and then you won't know where the hell I am and so wont be able to Nook-yulerise me :p

How will hiding inside an aquatic mammal save you from a nook-yuler bomb?

Damn those hippies, always trying to save the Wales. Now I know why!

How will hiding inside an aquatic mammal save you from a nook-yuler bomb?

Damn those hippies, always trying to save the Wales. Now I know why!

Welsh Wales your Presidentshipness, its like a sea mammal but its a country instead.

Welsh Wales your Presidentshipness, its like a sea mammal but its a country instead.

Actually, its part of the British Empire last time I checked.

Actually, its part of the British Empire last time I checked.

Your humor sensor is offline.

Sorry, hate to break it to you, but...the Russians beat you guys to it.
yeah, well we were still the 1st to land on the moon. woot!

yeah, well we were still the 1st to land on the moon. woot!

Yeah, that's great and all, but... the USSR beat you to space.

Now, how does it feel when it's your country?

Different note:

Eut, thanks for the compliment. I'd like to thank the Russians for scheduling it for the anniversary of Santos Dumont's first recorded flight, too, that was nice, added style. Regardless, it's not really Brazil's merit, since we basically hitchhiked to space. :p
Anyways, thanks for bringing it up.

Yeah, that's great and all, but... the USSR beat you to space.

Now, how does it feel when it's your country?

It pissed us off and JFK (may he rest in peace) uped the anty to the Moon within 10 years. Amazing how much encouragement can spur progress.

Different note:

Eut, thanks for the compliment. I'd like to thank the Russians for scheduling it for the anniversary of Santos Dumont's first recorded flight, too, that was nice, added style. Regardless, it's not really Brazil's merit, since we basically hitchhiked to space. :p
Anyways, thanks for bringing it up.

I actually have to echo the sentiment. I think its high time we really begin to have international crews as it is the International Space Station.

Yeah, that's great and all, but... the USSR beat you to space.

Now, how does it feel when it's your country?

Different note:

Eut, thanks for the compliment. I'd like to thank the Russians for scheduling it for the anniversary of Santos Dumont's first recorded flight, too, that was nice, added style. Regardless, it's not really Brazil's merit, since we basically hitchhiked to space. :p
Anyways, thanks for bringing it up.
You're more than welcome, Dude! Should be lots and lots more of that as time goes on. Perhaps it will make people wake up and realize that we really are just one people who just happen to live in different political constructs, and that we really can "just get along." :)

It pissed us off and JFK (may he rest in peace) uped the anty to the Moon within 10 years. Amazing how much encouragement can spur progress.



I actually have to echo the sentiment. I think its high time we really begin to have international crews as it is the International Space Station.

I was just expressing my displeasure at UNA's continued existance, and Coulter-esque quips.

A Brazillian in space? That's a lot.

How much is a Brazillian again? And where's they get enough rockets?
Damnit he beat me to that joke. :headbang:

A Brazillian in space? That's a lot.

How much is a Brazillian again? And where's they get enough rockets?

It's just one rocket, but it'll just be a VERY long process with lots of wax... ;)

Yeah, that's great and all, but... the USSR beat you to space.

Now, how does it feel when it's your country?

Different note:

Eut, thanks for the compliment. I'd like to thank the Russians for scheduling it for the anniversary of Santos Dumont's first recorded flight, too, that was nice, added style. Regardless, it's not really Brazil's merit, since we basically hitchhiked to space. :p
Anyways, thanks for bringing it up.

Another NSer in Brazil, Woot.

Mas Santos Dumond só inventou o relogio de pulso, o avião foi os irmãos Wright.

How will hiding inside an aquatic mammal save you from a nook-yuler bomb?

Damn those hippies, always trying to save the Wales. Now I know why!
Okay, he can't be Bush.
Why?? Cuz bush prolly thinks whales are fish.

Another NSer in Brazil, Woot.

Mas Santos Dumond só inventou o relogio de pulso, o avião foi os irmãos Wright.

Mais ou menos. O primeiro avião a não precisar de trilho para impulso foi o 14-Bis.

Thus it begins. The opening rounds in the commercialization of space, which will springboard the entire human race into space exploration. W00t!

Assuming the local heavyweights in space legalization don't make it unprofitable to the point where all the corporations just throw in the towel on that. Given how jealous the US is when other people develop their own GPS, imagine how they would look at serious commercialization of the space frontier at the propable loss of strategic superiority in that arena due to being crowded out.