It appears that Yi So-yeon’s trip into space really was even closer to being a disaster then orginally suspected:
But Korea has not made an issue of the incident. A KARI astronaut program official merely said, “We agreed with Russia to make efforts to prevent negative news reports.” A university professor of aviation and space critically said, “Such remarks are not the kind of statement expected from a customer who has paid a whopping W20 billion (US$1=W996). The country’s astronaut program has turned into an ugly monstrosity, as our government was denied proper status in the bilateral contract as a result of its lack of negotiation ability.”
In an interview in Moscow last Tuesday, Yi said although the retro rocket engine operated, she felt “enormous gravity pull on my body because the spaceship was descending at a great speed. I thought this may be the way a human being dies.”
Quoting an anonymous Russian official, the Interfax news agency reported that during re-entry into the atmosphere, the spaceship was flying upside down, forcing its heat sink panel to be placed at the back and its hatch to hit the atmosphere directly. This suggested that the astronauts’ safety was in danger because the hatch could have melted. [Chosun Ilbo]
It does sound like this was a close call for the people in the capsule, but fortunately they all made the landing safely.
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12:04 pm on April 29th, 2008 1
Methinks that’s what it boils down to–too much flame on; not enough ch’emyon.
1:26 am on April 30th, 2008 2
11:41 am on August 12th, 2008 3
I have a question to the military experts in this blog:
Regarding the Korean satellite launching program, could Korea use the technology acquired from Russia to build ballistic missiles?
11:56 am on August 12th, 2008 4
Sure, and they’d probably need Russian technology to hit the US when the time comes….nK technology is already good enough to hit Japan.
4:51 pm on August 12th, 2008 5
You are right Mark. Its quite possible that when the USA pulls back her ample teat from the suckling Korean mouth, there will be shock and disbelief, and then anger. I mean can you imagine the sense of entitlement that is built up with 60 years of free teat milk.
But don’t worry, baby Korea, Aunt China is hovering nearby. She will give you her breast, because she knows you will be hungry and will eagerly take it. Say ‘won-ton’ little baby Korea, its time to learn Chinese.
2:33 am on August 13th, 2008 6
Mark,
So your answer is “yes”, right? Than thank you.
BTW, Why would Korea hit the USA with ballistic missiles?
4:15 am on August 13th, 2008 7
Dr. Yu,
Yes, that is correct.
I cannot see far enough into the future to know why they will attack us, but I’m sure they will someday. Had I been alive 50 years ago, I would have never imagined such widespread anti-US sentiment in Korea. Then again, 20 years ago I’d have never imagined ourselves being in two religious wars in the Soviets’ old stomping grounds.
4:32 am on August 13th, 2008 8
I wouldn’t fly in a Russian commercial airliner, let alone set foot in one of their Lada-engineered spacecraft.
6:19 am on August 13th, 2008 9
“I cannot see far enough into the future to know why they will attack us, but I’m sure they will someday”
Oh my goodness .. American preemptive attack at sight !!!!
6:29 am on August 13th, 2008 10
Mark,
I made the question because I was trying to understand the reason why the USA refused to cooperate with the Korean satellite launching program. I think it was a decision motivated by military reasons.
6:32 am on August 13th, 2008 11
Yeah, I suppose we’ve been less trusting over the past few years due to numerous security breaches, mainly to China.
11:49 am on August 13th, 2008 12
“I made the question because I was trying to understand the reason why the USA refused to cooperate with the Korean satellite launching program.”
Two words: Robert Kim
11:34 pm on August 13th, 2008 13
Thanks Mark.