In the case of a space disaster where astronauts would be unable to return without a rescue mission....?

Question

... how much money would we be willing to commit to save them? I mean, if it would take billions of dollars to rescue them, that money could save a hell of a lot of people here on Earth. I've heard that astronauts have suicide capsules available on board. Would that be a case where they would be used?

Not trying to sound grim, but it may well be a situation we are in someday.

Answer 1

This is the very reason that NASA is developing robots to take the place of humans in space. See these sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robonaut

http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/default.asp



Quite apart from the fact that in space, robots would be utterly superior to humans, and it would cost only a tiny fraction of the cost to design, launch and run a robotic mission compared to a human mission, having robots in space instead of humans removes the possibility of the dreaded scenario that you describe.



If a manned mission gets into an emergency situation, billions of dollars will be risked on a rescue that may itself turn into a disaster and fiasco. Then someone has to make hard decisions on what to do next. Then finally there would be an outcry from the media, religion and every nutty creed and sect under creation. Space exploration itself would be faced with extinction.



On the other hand if a robotic mission gets into an emergency, the robots simply continue until power runs out at which point they are switched off. The cost of the mission gets written off, lessons get learned, and NASA tries again with a redesigned mission plan. The situation is no more tragic than the failure of missions like Mars Observer, or any of the shots in the Ranger series.



So since NASA is aware of the risk to it's very existence caused by manned missions, it has wisely decided to pursue the development of humanoid robots to take the place of humans in space on all foreseeable future missions.



Cheers!

Answer 2

depends on the situation

worst case: Nothing possible could be done. they die



American NASA would NOT have "suicide capsules" or if they did they would NEVER make it public

The space station has a russian escape capsule attached



think of the Titanic and life boats.



Before a mission is launched there is a great deal of planning for all imaginable possibilities



Usually countries spend what ever they have on rescue missions. Example Chile and the miners



Read about Apollo 13.



In war time sometimes spies had ways to kill themselves to escape torture, It depends on the culture



Accidents happen

Answer 3

No amount of money could save them, because the only way it could cost that much is if we needed to build a whole new space craft, and they would die long before we could complete such a project. But assuming there was an existing space craft that just wasn't ready to launch now, the cost to launch it early would be less that billions. It would be only slightly higher cost than a normally scheduled launch, because they would have to pay extra overtime for some people to work extra hours for a few days or weeks to get it ready in time.



And why would you need suicide capsules? They could just let the air out of their space craft and they would pass out within seconds and not even feel any pain as they died. The famous golfer, Payne Stewart, died when his private jet lost cabin pressure, all persons onboard passed out in seconds, and the plane flew on autopilot until it ran out of fuel and crashed. Stories that you explode if you are exposed to the vacuum of space are false. You might get a nose bleed, and you would get the bends, but you would pass out in less than 10 seconds and not have time start to feel the effects of the bends.

Answer 4

When a shuttle goes up, another is on standby in case of emergencies. A shuttle launch is probably 200 million. So the short answer is yes, we are willing to spend a lot of money to save 7 people. It is not a logical thing but more of an emotional attachment (guilt, loyalty, etc..)

Answer 5

interesting point, i'd never thought of it. What i suspect would happen is the us government would try to downplay it as much as possible. Inevitably some concerned citizen from the BibleBelt would demand that we save those few AMERICANS at any cost. the rest of American would latch onto this and the government would cave, and rescue them. The entire world would then proceed to criticize our lack of willingness to help ailing countries when we'd spend billions to save a few of our own. They'd be justified.

Answer 6

I would think they probably would have suicide capsules. I mean it would be better than the alternative. Like drifting away in space or deserted on mars with no food or nothing. But I think people would understand.