Re: Soyuz TMA-12 faulty


"J. Clarke" <jclarke.usenet@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:g1m0jk02s44@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You're ignoring manufacturing defects and what's called in failure
analysis the "bathtub curve"--failure rates are high for items fresh
off the line, go down after a period of time, and remain low until
wear, fatigue, and other effects of long term operation start becoming
an issue.

Every experienced delivery pilot has a horror story or two about
things that were wrong with a type certified airplane brand new from
the factory.

And expendable launch vehicles are subject to those sorts of horror stories.
The current problems with Soyuz DM not properly separating from the Soyuz SM
are in that category.

In general, dropping expendable bits and pieces isn't a good idea for a
reusable vehicle since those expendable pieces are all subject to these
sorts of early failures. If you must drop off bits and pieces, they'd
better be simple and the separation mechanism had better work every time.

Jeff
--
A clever person solves a problem.
A wise person avoids it. -- Einstein


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Soyuz TMA-12 faulty
    ... And expendable launch vehicles are subject to those sorts of horror ... I rather think these are purely problems with quality control and not ... initial test flights. ...
    (sci.space.history)
  • Re: Soyuz TMA-12 faulty
    ... And expendable launch vehicles are subject to those sorts of horror stories. ... The current problems with Soyuz DM not properly separating from the Soyuz SM ... I rather think these are purely problems with quality control and not ...
    (sci.space.history)
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