Moscow's moon mission ends in disaster, interview with NASA astronaut & podcast team sanctioned by Russia
Aug 21, 2023
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Terry Virts, former NASA astronaut and test fighter pilot, discusses his experience working with Russian cosmonauts and witnessing the 2014 war from space. The podcast team also talks about the recent failure of a Russian moon mission and the challenges of Ukraine's defense against Russia. They share their experience of being sanctioned by the Kremlin and reflect on their reporting accuracy.
The US, the Netherlands, and Denmark have committed to providing Ukraine with F-16 modern fighter jets, signaling strong support for Ukraine's fight for freedom.
Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts emphasizes the importance of providing Ukraine with air superiority and the necessary equipment to remove Russia from Ukraine, criticizing the delay in support and urging a more deliberate approach.
The Russian space program has faced numerous challenges and failures, leading to a decline in their dominance as a launch provider and highlighting the poor shape of the industry.
Deep dives
Updates from Ukraine
The latest updates from Ukraine include the redirection of flights over Moscow due to alleged Ukrainian drones being brought down. There were also reported attacks on a Russian military airfield and a railway station. ISW reported Ukrainian forces advancing to the east, while a Russian mill blogger claimed that Russian forces are facing issues with counter-battery capabilities. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister mentioned unsuccessful counter-attacks by Russia and Ukrainian gains in certain areas, as well as warnings of increased missile carriers in the Black Sea. Additionally, the Russian lunar mission crash and the visit of a senior Russian official to Hungary were mentioned.
Support from the US, the Netherlands, and Denmark
The US, the Netherlands, and Denmark have committed to provide Ukraine with F-16 modern fighter jets, marking a significant development in the conflict. The decision is seen as a clear commitment to support Ukraine's fight for freedom. The number of F-16s to be donated has not been finalized, and there are discussions around the transfer of other fighter planes like the JS-39 Gripen. The support aims to give Ukraine air superiority and enhance their capabilities in countering the Russian invasion.
Strategic Reflections and Equipment Needs
Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts provides strategic reflections on the conflict in Ukraine. He highlights the need for a clear vision and goals, such as removing Russia from Ukraine, and emphasizes the importance of providing Ukraine with air superiority and the necessary equipment to achieve the vision. Virts mentions the capabilities of the F-16 as a weapon launching platform and the need for fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 for better air superiority. He also discusses the potential of the JS-39 Gripen as a suitable option. Virts criticizes the delay in providing Ukraine with the necessary equipment and urges a more deliberate approach in supporting Ukraine's fight against Russia.
Russian Space Program Challenges and Failures
The podcast discusses the challenges and failures faced by the Russian space program in recent years. Problems such as delays, budget overruns, rocket failures, and technical errors have plagued the program. The speaker highlights that these issues have led to a decline in Russia's dominance as a launch provider, with SpaceX now taking over that role. The overall state of the Russian space industry is deemed to be in poor shape.
Cooperation on the International Space Station
The podcast explores the state of cooperation on the International Space Station (ISS) in light of Russia's actions in Ukraine. The speaker acknowledges the success of international cooperation on the ISS in the past, but expresses sadness over the deterioration of the cooperative spirit. They argue that it is difficult to cooperate with a country actively involved in the conflict in Ukraine. However, the speaker also points out the technical and logistical reasons why cooperation with Russia on the ISS is still necessary, such as the need for rocket thrusters and shared resources. The complexities of cooperating with Russia amid ongoing tensions are emphasized.
Today, we bring you the latest updates from the battlefront, analyse the vital decision over the weekend to send fighter planes to Ukraine, and interview Former NASA Astronaut and test fighter pilot, Terry Virts. He speaks about his experience working with Russian cosmonauts, the moment he saw the 2014 war break out from space, and the West’s strategic thinking regarding Ukraine. Plus, we update listeners on our plans for the US trip, and how the podcast team has been sanctioned by the Kremlin.
Contributors:
David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on Twitter.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on Twitter.
Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on Twitter.
With thanks to Terry Virts. @AstroTerry on Twitter.
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