Watching the world go by from orbit

May 10, 2013 5:49 AM

Serene and hypnotizing video of a Russian Progress spacecraft docking with the International Space Station.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (16 comments total)

What's that, you want a HD video of a Progress docking, but from a different angle? Fine, here's one of an earlier flight.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:58 AM on May 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Needs more Boards Of Canada (play at the same time, keep the Progress video volume up).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:07 AM on May 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Man, my grandmother parks faster than this flying tugboat.
posted by smcniven at 6:11 AM on May 10, 2013

Man, my grandmother parks faster than this flying tugboat.

Docking with the ISS ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a solar panel or bounce too close to a service module, and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:13 AM on May 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

In other ISS news, Commander Hadfield reported an ammonia leak and two crew members are prepping for an emergency spacewalk to deal with it.

Sort of makes me feel bad for putting off fixing the leak in my shower head.
posted by bondcliff at 6:15 AM on May 10, 2013

Board of Canada? Go with the classic, man.
posted by bicyclefish at 6:17 AM on May 10, 2013

Thank God, does not resemble the trailer for Gravity
posted by angrycat at 6:29 AM on May 10, 2013

This is my kind of reality TV.
posted by mazola at 6:43 AM on May 10, 2013

Some beautiful views from space set to the Soviet cosmonaut anthem 14 минут до старта (14 minutes to lift-off)
posted by Authorized User at 8:02 AM on May 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Needs more Spiritualized

Although I think this song is the best fit
posted by KokuRyu at 8:06 AM on May 10, 2013

I wonder if it's serene for the people on the station, or are they excited because there are space treats on board the Soyuz, or maybe it's unpleasant because the Soyuz makes things rattle and fall off space-shelves, or what?
posted by Mister_A at 10:58 AM on May 10, 2013

Probably not as serene for the astronauts, because they're busy keeping an eye on the spacecraft, photographing it and communicating with mission control.

But they do get to gaze out the Cupola for hours on end, so it all balances out.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:04 AM on May 10, 2013

Mister_A, although they are closely related in a number of ways, Progress is the name for the cargo vehicles; Soyuz is the name for the crew vehicles.

From my understanding it's a big deal -- something happening, you know -- and there is some level of tension with any such operation, but yes they're looking forward to what it brings up -- anything from fresh fruit to the newest DVDs -- and usually several days' work transferring experiments and supplies out and garbage back in.

Also, everything in space is already falling. They hold stuff in place with velcro.

I am getting really tired after just a few days of the new trick where YouTube covers up the tab title and just calls any tab "YouTube". I have something else paused right now and half the time I'm clicking back to the wrong one. Fuck you, Google.
posted by dhartung at 4:32 PM on May 10, 2013

The Russians are obviously using MechJeb. Approach to within 2km, zero your relative velocity, aim TGT+, gain 2m/s delta V, coast, zero your velocity, repeat. Gets you to within 35-40 meters of a space station in Kerbal Space Program with relatively little fuel used.
posted by thewalrus at 11:30 PM on May 10, 2013

Oh shit, I think something went wrong...
posted by homunculus at 11:55 PM on May 10, 2013

Yeah, the space walks are looking really fake. It's clear that the actors are still in gravity and on wires. Plus the chick from Speed and the smooth talking thief from Ocean's 11 are in space? That's just asking for trouble.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:13 AM on May 11, 2013