| > I've frequently read in news articles that the lifetime of the Soyuz spacecraft on orbit is limited by H2O2. You appear to be saying that's false May be I misunderstood, what said by insiders. As I remember, first "Soyuz" spacecrafts was maid with H2O2 system, but than they made lot of changes, including new reaction control system. But looks logically, system used in space separated from system used on atmosphere.
And because "Soyuz" landing on dry land, and because accuracy of landing is its weak side, it is also logical to not use toxic components. I think you remember, how long astronauts stay inside "Dragon" once, because sensors shown hydrazine fuel vapor near ship. - American ships > Perhaps you can point at a source? Sorry, it is not easy now. It is not secret. Before approximately 2005 I talked a lot on Russian forums, and there was specialists from Russian space industry, and they shared extremely interest info, and I even considered to go work there.
Plus books, mostly from Russian authors. After ~2005, appeared serious tension in talks, so I avoid them, to save my own psychic health. I cannot be sure, but looks like, it was another step in preparing for big war. And you are right, that open information on Russian technologies is very limited. This is partially, because they considered nearly all space technologies as semi-military, so some information just classified. Other part is that Russians extremely conservative in business behaviors, and one thing, they inherit form Soviets - very big love to close nearly all information, even harmless and useless, just to show only good info, to look better, to look winner. What I mean about Soviets - typically, they made launches without announces, and only talk about them if success. Because of this exists "kosmos" satellites, some of which was planned to flight with this designation, but mostly these are unsuccessful satellites, which reach orbit (and appeared in NORAD list) but does not function from beginning. If satellite not reached orbit (for example because of malfunction of rocket), and NORAD don't catch it, nothing said at all. If reached some orbit, but malfunction - appears new "kosmos". Because of this behavior, in late USSR was about 1500 "kosmos" sats, and now this number more than 2000. |