Rescue of untethered astronaut or cosmonaut at ISS











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If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?










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    If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?










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      up vote
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      favorite











      If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?










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      If an astronaut or cosmonaut at the ISS becomes separated and floats away accidentally during an EVA, is there a way to rescue him or her?







      eva






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      asked 5 hours ago









      dualredlaugh

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          Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.



          The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)



          If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.






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          • But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
            – Uwe
            5 hours ago






          • 2




            @Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
            – Russell Borogove
            3 hours ago











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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          5
          down vote



          accepted










          Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.



          The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)



          If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.






          share|improve this answer





















          • But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
            – Uwe
            5 hours ago






          • 2




            @Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
            – Russell Borogove
            3 hours ago















          up vote
          5
          down vote



          accepted










          Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.



          The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)



          If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.






          share|improve this answer





















          • But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
            – Uwe
            5 hours ago






          • 2




            @Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
            – Russell Borogove
            3 hours ago













          up vote
          5
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          5
          down vote



          accepted






          Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.



          The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)



          If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.






          share|improve this answer












          Yes, there are at least two ways an untethered astronaut could be rescued.



          The SAFER system is a self-contained jetpack with a tiny amount of propulsive capability - just enough to get you back to something to grab if you somehow became untethered. (The Wikipedia article isn't 100% clear whether this is used on every EVA -- in particular I'm not sure if Russian EVAs use it.)



          If an astronaut or cosmonaut was drifting away with no self-propulsion available to return to the station, one of the Soyuz capsules could undock and go fetch them. I'm not sure how long it normally takes one to be made ready, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the checklists could be cut short. The Soyuz are very maneuverable, and the forward orbital module can act as an airlock.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 5 hours ago









          Russell Borogove

          79.4k2261347




          79.4k2261347












          • But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
            – Uwe
            5 hours ago






          • 2




            @Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
            – Russell Borogove
            3 hours ago


















          • But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
            – Uwe
            5 hours ago






          • 2




            @Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
            – Russell Borogove
            3 hours ago
















          But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
          – Uwe
          5 hours ago




          But after such a rescue mission is there enough fuel left in the Soyuz capsule for a regular reentry and landing on Earth? The checklists may be cut short, but the guidance system of the Soyuz should be prepared and aligned to be prepared for the rendezvous maneuvers with the astronaut and then back to the ISS.
          – Uwe
          5 hours ago




          2




          2




          @Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
          – Russell Borogove
          3 hours ago




          @Uwe I think so. Rescuing a drifting crewman would be only a matter of a few m/s of ∆v, almost certainly all done on attitude thrusters. It would be little different from the maneuvers needed to move the Soyuz from one docking port to another, which are done occasionally.
          – Russell Borogove
          3 hours ago


















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