Russian Superjet 100 Crashes During Demo Flight, Killing All Aboard 339
First time accepted submitter Prokur writes "A brand new Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner on a demonstration flight with 37 passengers (mostly future clients and journalists) and 8 Russian crew members on board went missing after it took off from an airport in Jakarta. After an extensive search, rescuers concluded, based on the widespread debris field on the side of a ridge, that the aircraft directly impacted the rocky side of Mount Salak and there was 'no chance of survival.'"
Weather (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Probably lost the sale, too! (Score:3, Interesting)
And why is it important to have astronauts in space? Symbolism, romance and sword-rattling are not acceptable answers.
Because an astronaut on Mars with a shovel can do more in 10 minutes than two robotic rovers can do in a year.
Re:Repeat Customers? (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Probably lost the sale, too! (Score:5, Interesting)
It's worth mentioning that Boeing is a major partner in the Superet program, providing consultation, manufacturing, design and technical ability. They are more than a subcontractor, they signed a long term partnership for the project.
So it's worth holding off on the "its Russian" comments.
Re:Probably lost the sale, too! (Score:3, Interesting)
To keep pushing the boundaries. Long term, we need to leave Earth, we need to get humans in some survivable form on other worlds and eventually out of the solar system. We don't have just the sun exploding to worry about. Natural disasters, unexpected celestial events. Heck, we have companies looking into trying to move asteroids into Earth orbit for mining. Imagine if we had a Fukushima/B.P. incident with one of those? The sooner we can get the tech tested feasible the better in case we need it.
Take at the look at the discovery of the Americas. The first there and/or with tech to quickly get there and utilize any game changing discovery will greatly benefit.
Re:Probably lost the sale, too! (Score:5, Interesting)
You don't need fuel for the trip back. Just send astronauts with terminal illnesses and less than a year to live. I'm sure many (most?) would be willing to go die in Mars.
I'm perfectly healthy and happy, with a wife and two wonderful daughters. And I would go in a second, no questions asked. I'd even be content with knowing that I'll die of radiation poisoning on the way, and have my dead body crashed into a martian crater, just in order to learn from it and make the trip safer for the next guy.
Re:Probably lost the sale, too! (Score:3, Interesting)
"My point is that the exploration of Earth was made by heroes willing to risk their lives and often without any hope of returning."
I here that a lot when discussing Mars, but people seem to over look a tiny factor:
There is Air everywhere on earth. Three is food everywhere on earth, and there is water almost everywhere on the earth.
Columbus did not need to bring all his food, water and air for the entire duration. Also, he went home.
If mars was habitable, you would have a point. Also, we would have a shit ton of people there already.
NO one way is not the best, the people who would volunteer are mostly unstable type who have no clue what would be involved
It would not be cheaper because you would be constantly sending supplies. Every week, for decades.
Yes, if we could make it happen, there would be even more rewards.
Remember, you can just send people. You have to send people, food, air, water, tools, lab equipment, vehicular, robots communications equipment. 100+tons of stuff.
Is getting a permanent station a worth goal? yes, absolutely. Are we ready for that? no.