Why Do Russian Bulavas Fail?

[Martian2]

I think Russia should have treated its scientists with more care. In 1989, after Russia separated from the Soviet Union, the Russian government was mostly interested in plotting to legally loot state-owned companies. For about ten years, the Yeltsin administration and its oligarch co-conspirators plundered the country.

Meanwhile, the Russian rocket scientists were left unemployed and they had to drive cabs in Moscow to make a living. Alternatively, the Russian scientists could set up a little stand by the road and sell radishes or socks. The effect was devastating. Russia lost its braintrust of rocket scientists.

How many Bulava failures is it now? Are we at 7 failures out of 12 tries? There is a Russian specialist at an American organization that claims that the Bulava has only successfully passed one test; while the other 4 were only partially successful.

In my opinion, Russia may have irretrievably lost its valuable asset of rocket scientists. No decree by Putin can manifest rocketry expertise in Russia's new group of young and inexperienced rocket neophytes. I think it is fair to say that we can expect more Bulava failures in the future. It will be a miracle if the Bulava is ever deployed.

 

[Thomas]

I think Russia should have treated its scientists with more care. In 1989, after Russia separated from the Soviet Union, the Russian government was mostly interested in plotting to legally loot state-owned companies. For about ten years, the Yeltsin administration and its oligarch co-conspirators plundered the country.

Meanwhile, the Russian rocket scientists were left unemployed and they had to drive cabs in Moscow to make a living. Alternatively, the Russian scientists could set up a little stand by the road and sell radishes or socks. The effect was devastating. Russia lost its braintrust of rocket scientists.

How many Bulava failures is it now? Are we at 7 failures out of 12 tries? There is a Russian specialist at an American organization that claims that the Bulava has only successfully passed one test; while the other 4 were only partially successful.

In my opinion, Russia may have irretrievably lost its valuable asset of rocket scientists. No decree by Putin can manifest rocketry expertise in Russia's new group of young and inexperienced rocket neophytes. I think it is fair to say that we can expect more Bulava failures in the future. It will be a miracle if the Bulava is ever deployed.

I am actually waiting to see when the PAK-FA ever actually flies. And then makes into full scale production. it seems they have had engine troubles. one senior Russian was recently quoted as saying it may be 10 years before commercial production happens.

 

[Martian2]

I am actually waiting to see when the PAK-FA ever actually flies. And then makes into full scale production. it seems they have had engine troubles. one senior Russian was recently quoted as saying it may be 10 years before commercial production happens.

This does not surprise me at all. During the Yeltsin decade, Russian scientists were discarded by their country. Foolishly, the Yeltsin government and its allies only cared about "appropriating" money. No one paid any attention to protecting the nation's true treasure, its scientists. Once those scientists lost their jobs and were scattered to the winds, it may take decades for Russia to regain the invaluable experience and competency of its most-talented scientists.

Your post rams home the point that it wasn't just the rocket scientists that suffered. The aviation scientists were also treated with neglect. The Russian aerospace sector has to start anew with smart, but wet-behind-the-ears, young scientists. Lacking mentors, the young scientists are like children without fathers. I wish the young Russian scientists and engineers the best of luck as they try to conduct cutting-edge science on their own and without mentors.

 

[paritosh]

There was a time when Russian physicists were said to be the best in the world...IMO their whole education system has suffered alot after their economic debacle in the 80s and 90s...

 

[Martian2]

There was a time when Russian physicists were said to be the best in the world...IMO their whole education system has suffered alot after their economic debacle in the 80s and 90s...

I agree with you. There was a time when Russian physicists and mathematicians were world class. It is inexplicable that the Russian government did not take care of their brilliant scientists. All of that brainpower and experience has been wasted.

 

[holysaturn]

the more complex missiles are ,the more they are prone to failures.

 

[Martian2]

the more complex missiles are ,the more they are prone to failures.

Submarine-launched solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles are indeed very complex, but they are not prone to failures in countries that are real superpowers.

Navy has successful Trident II D5 launch - UPI.com

"The two Lockheed Martin-built Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles were successfully launched from the Navy's USS West Virginia as part of a regular safety and reliability check on the strategic weapons technology.

Lockheed Martin says since 1989 the Trident II D5 has had 129 consecutive successful test flights."

DONG FENG - EAST WIND/JULANG - GREAT WAVE

"The Julang 2 missile was successfully tested by the PLA Navy in Jan. 2001 and a successful test of the undersea launch system was conducted in October 2001. This system is planned for installation on the Type 94 SLBM submarine at Huludao."

In the superpower race, you can't keep making excuses for repeated Bulava failures. Today's Russia is a shadow of the former Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a formidable and frightening superpower. In contrast, today's Russia provides the world with pretty fireworks.

Here's the first one that occurred over Norway. For those of you, like me, who prefer videos to reading long articles.

Another 'UFO' from Russia - Cosmic Log - msnbc.com

""The first rocket UFO was so much fun, the Russians fired off another one as an encore!" Oberg wrote."

Here's the second fireworks display over Siberia.

 

[paritosh]

I agree with you. There was a time when Russian physicists and mathematicians were world class. It is inexplicable that the Russian government did not take care of their brilliant scientists. All of that brainpower and experience has been wasted.

that has happened with the soviet artists also...some of their best orchestras and artists lost their livelihood when they lost their elite audience...the bourgeois class wanted none of the old greco-russian troupes...

 

[Martian2]

that has happened with the soviet artists also...some of their best orchestras and artists lost their livelihood when they lost their elite audience...the bourgeois class wanted none of the old greco-russian troupes...

This time around, the artists have a better strategy.

Ballet steps gingerly in hard times - The Denver Post

"But in response to the recession, Boggs was careful to choose works with broad audience appeal, such as "Beauty and the Beast," and ones with lower production costs.

Instead of the two or three world premieres the ballet typically presents during its spring repertory program, for example, this season's offering will include just one new commission. In addition, the company is bringing back Lila York's "Celts," a piece it presented in 2007.

"That's another economy-based decision," Boggs said. "When you acquire these ballets, you have the rights for them from three to five years. So, instead of having to pay tens of thousands of dollars, you already have it.""