The EU Referendum - In or Out?

Submitted by Mortal Mindy on

Mortal Mindy's picture

Oh, tis not a 'side show' ... where to begin? 

http://labourmovement.eu/2016/02/never-mind-the-sideshow-labour-should-f...

"David Cameron looked pleased with himself this week when he stood up in the House of Commons and announced the details of his new draft deal with our European neighbours (or, as he prefers to call them, “Brussels”).

As usual, he’d been pipped to the post by his hard-right backbenchers, who had got up very early the previous morning and taken to the airwaves to rubbish comprehensively a proposal they hadn’t even seen yet. Nobody was surprised. For politicians who’ve made their political career out of pretending the EU is evil and unreformable, they have to find some way to dismiss every piece of evidence to the contrary as either pointless or illusory, and this latest reform is no exception.

So far, so predictable. But what should we on the left make of Cameron’s proposals? In reality, there are few surprises in the draft. It’s a mixture of reasonable improvements, trivial tweaks and irrelevant details. The protections for non-euro countries are genuinely useful, as is the commitment that the drive to ease regulatory burdens will “continue to ensure high regulatory standards”. On that note, we can also be proud that Labour and the trade unions have successfully headed off an attack on EU social protections and workplace rights, which was threatened by the Tories a year ago, and would have triggered a race to the bottom across Europe.

Symbolic or even trivial are the interpretations of what is meant by ‘ever-closer union’ — which confirm that it never created any legal obligation on states to integrate beyond what they explicitly agree in the treaties — and the ‘red card’ for a majority of 55% of national parliaments, when anyway a minority as low as 4 (out of 28) ministers representing those same national parliaments can in any case block decisions.

The provisions on welfare benefits for internal EU migrants, if confirmed, would represent a considerable concession by other EU countries. For in-work benefits they could lead to employed, taxpaying workers (say, an Irishman, a Brit and a Pole) doing the same job at the same workplace getting different remuneration for the same work, after tax credits are taken into account.  Even if this is circumscribed, it’s understandable that other countries are not enthusiastic about this concession. Nor might British trade unions be. And, of course, they all know that this issue is a contrived one: it didn’t feature in Cameron’s initial speech setting out his intentions to seek reforms to the EU. EU migrants in Britain pay far more in taxes than they take out in benefits and services. This is a Tory party sideshow.

But we mustn’t be distracted by that sideshow and miss the big picture. The upcoming referendum is not on Cameron’s reforms — it’s on the much more important question of our entire EU membership. And on that genuinely momentous issue, there’s no room for negotiation, Cameron-style or otherwise. For jobs and trade, for workers and consumers, for our country’s security and much more besides, we must keep Britain at the heart of Europe.

There are, finally, small glimmers of hope that even Cameron himself may be belatedly coming to terms with this truth. The most telling parts of his performance in the Commons were on the occasions, scattered among eurosceptic barracking and feeble distractions, when he was confronted with questions of genuine practical importance which were only vaguely linked to the Brexit debate. What were his views, he was asked at one point, on the possibility of European countries granting ‘market economy status’ to China? Wouldn’t that hamper our ability to impose anti-dumping measures, for instance to protect British industry against aggressive Chinese trade practices?

Cameron’s response was simple. The two are unconnected. The EU has deployed trade defence measures against full market economies in the past, including even the USA. But the crucial point is this: it’s only by being part of the EU that such measures can have any useful impact at all. That’s one key reason why we have a European Union in the first place: to amplify our policy decisions through Europe’s immense collective clout on the world stage.

Are moments like these the first signs of genuine political engagement from a prime minister who has, up till now, been obsessed with trying to keep a lid on the Conservative party’s internal turmoil? After all, when the deal is finalised, perhaps as early as mid-February, he knows as well as everyone else that the hard right of his party will abandon any remaining pretence of loyalty and resume their customary all-out assault on the Great Enemy. Speaking reason to them is a waste of breath, and it always has been. British voters are — thankfully — far more sensible, and they deserve to hear the rational argument before they make their judgement.

As for Labour, our position is much stronger. We are a party united in our belief that Britain is stronger, safer and more prosperous as part of the European Union. That means we can simply ignore the Conservative party’s antics and focus the minds of voters on the real issues that affect them: jobs and growth, security at home and abroad, and strong protections for workers, consumers and the environment – all of which are enhanced by our EU membership.

Richard Corbett is the Deputy Leader of Labour MEPs. You can read his full analysis of the proposals and their implications here. "

Wake up and smell the roses?   ;-)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA5ouSoT_JU

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33 Comments

Capt. 'Bob''s picture

EU: Useful Resources

Submitted by Capt. 'Bob' on

http://www.richardcorbett.org.uk/helping-newcomers-to-integrate/

http://www.info4migrants.com/uk/en/home/

PS: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/12139252/David-C...

With views on the Pews :-0

http://www.newscrasher.com/2016/02/04/privatise-food-banks-says-iain-dun...

Never mind the bangles, do migrants & refugees get to vote?

Cheap tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVvZ6PIVV94

Mortal Mindy's picture

Geopolitical 'Sprouts'

Submitted by Mortal Mindy on

Paddle Faster ...  ;-0

http://newsthump.com/2016/02/08/immigration-armageddon-landmass-could-fo...

"Left-leaning tectonic plates could lead to Britain’s borders being encroached by landmass crawling with foreigners by the year 25002016.

The shocking revelations have prompted calls for an In/Out referendum on evolution, with UKIP leader Nigel Farage warning that Earth’s landmass will eventually merge and make controlling immigration a virtual impossibility.

“Opportunistic foreign landmass is hellbent on taking advantage of Britain’s soft-touch welfare system,” he said.

“Who’s to say that immigrants in 25002016 won’t be able to take on the identities of the indigenous population by sucking out their brains and replicating their DNA?

“This would make it even easier for them to jump housing waiting lists!

“We need to take action now for the sake of our children’s children’s children’s children’s children’s children’s children’s children’s….I haven’t done the exact maths.”

No-one gives a fuck about the opinions of experts anymore so here’s some reaction from Twitter:

‘My great, great grandchildren will be turning in their space graves!’

‘How long before Muslimatron robots are grooming our household appliances unchallenged?’

‘They’ll be using our time machines, coming back to the present and putting an additional strain on our public services.’

‘No doubt the EU are planning to send back an Eastern European cyborg to kill Nigel Farage’s mother!’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmKb-xDhIMg Naval Gazing? >>> 2025

Mortal Mindy's picture

EU: Pick A Card?

Submitted by Mortal Mindy on

http://www.richardcorbett.org.uk/who-holds-the-cards/

"The EU is our single largest export destination by far. Simply assuming that “things will work out all right on the night” is just not good enough for the millions of people in our country whose jobs could be on the line and the millions more whose standard of living would decline."

Richard's on the  'A' list : -)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyfhzqhJNbg&index=3&list=RDKhrpy4V0-U4

Don't spose there's a wiggle room.

Sticks.

Mortal Mindy's picture

EU: Top Twonk Twists

Submitted by Mortal Mindy on

From the pulpit:

"David Cameron has said Britain will never "retreat from the world" and it is in Europe's interests for the UK to stay in a reformed European Union.

Speaking in Hamburg, the PM said changes he was seeking to UK membership would make Europe "more outward-looking, competitive and dynamic".

"He said if he got what he wanted he would campaign "unequivocally" for the UK to stay in."

Prams.

"But Donald Tusk, the European Council president who is brokering talks on the UK's renegotiation process, has warned that the political process remains "very fragile", with some leaders still harbouring reservations about the plan, particularly over limits on welfare payments to new EU migrants..."

Tusks.

"We have the character of an island nation - independent, forthright, passionate in defence of our sovereignty - and of institutions that have served us well for many hundreds of years," he said.(Cambo)

'Us'?

"And the need to protect our sovereignty has always been paramount for us."    Who is US? tis not a movie ...

"Britain was an "open nation" and the values it shared with Germany underpinned their co-operation on trade, enterprise and security..."

Changing the script?

"But I believe we can - and if we do, I believe we can win that referendum and that will be good for Britain, good for Germany and good for the whole of Europe."

Gawd he's sounding like 'I believe Blair'. Paucity?

"...up to 100 Conservative MPs could end up supporting the Out campaign in a future referendum, including a number of current Cabinet ministers. More than 130 Conservative councillors have warned the prime minister risks splitting the party..."

Erm, wot about the EU being demographically challenged.... Hey Ho.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luVjkTEIoJc&list=RDKhrpy4V0-U4&index=3

Should Cambo & Osbo go off world ...

Orange.

Ooops: Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35562698

Mortal Mindy's picture

EU: Across the Pond in the USA

Submitted by Mortal Mindy on

Pondlife ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-35572261

The only 'good' bit

"The lively audience repeatedly jeered and booed the candidates."

Blue Fairies ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMtXR3sdXdM

"As the candidates shouted down and interrupted each other, CBS moderator John Dickerson warned: "We're in danger of driving this into the dirt."

... "I  think we're fixing to lose this election to Hillary Clinton if we don't stop this" ...

Yep, and yet another six reasons to cheer on the EU.

pmsl: a Micky Flynn ... http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/12/politics/hillary-clinton-michael-flynn...

Gin.

Clinton? Thatcher?

Cambo's found his new 'mommy' in Merkyl....

"What man, after all, wouldn’t be prepared to give things one more chance after being wooed over smoked eel and potato dumplings?

So the chancellor, along with 370 of Hamburg’s civic dignitaries, sat the prime minister down and told him what he means to them. He means trade, he means stability, and most of all he means not precipitating another European economic crisis by leaving.

“Dear David,” Merkel began her speech -- a touch formal for a reconciling couple perhaps, but she soon warmed up. The ability of the European Union to make compromises was “existentially important,” Merkel said -- and then came the big pitch: “I wish for the U.K. to remain an active member of a successful EU.”"

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-12/-dear-david-merkel-tri...

Bucket.

Capt. 'Bob''s picture

EU: Innit

Submitted by Capt. 'Bob' on

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/14/eu-referendum-poll-1-in-...

“Many small- and medium-sized companies complain about EU regulation” said Jürgen Maier, the CEO of Siemens in the UK. “But what people tend to overlook is that smaller engineering companies are often producing parts used by bigger engineering companies like us and therefore have to comply with those regulations either way.” Siemens employs 14,000 workers in UK, and claims that a further 24,000 jobs are linked to the company via its supply chain."

Mortal Mindy's picture

EU: The Numbers

Submitted by Mortal Mindy on

http://www.richardcorbett.org.uk/eu-membership-costs-us-a-fortune/

"Not true. In fact, our own (rather eurosceptic) government estimates that EU membership is worth £3000 a year to every British family. And the budget for the whole EU is just 1% of GDP, compared to about 49% spent by national governments. That’s just 2% of our public spending each year. Evidence

Each country pays a contribution to the budget proportional to its wealth, so wealthier countries pay more. The exact amount varies each year, but over the seven-year cycle 2007-2013 our net annual contribution was £3.8 billion, or about £63 per person. The UK’s contribution is actually much lower than other similar sized economies such as Germany and France, partly because we get a special rebate. Evidence

This contribution must be weighed against the financial benefits of our access to the single market. In 2011, the UK government estimated this to be between £30 billion and £90 billion per year — so a return on investment of between 800% and 2370%. Evidence

Many thousands of projects in the UK benefit each year. Detailed lists "

 

Capt. 'Bob''s picture

EU: Political Woodentops

Submitted by Capt. 'Bob' on

Order Order ... crawling out of the cave

Wavy Dave v  Bill Hague

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36017170

"In a rare foray into UK politics, Mr Miliband - who quit as an MP in 2013 - will say a vote to leave would be disastrous for the UK and the world.

He will urge the In camp not to "cede patriotism" to the other side."

"Mr Miliband - brother of former Labour leader Ed Miliband - quit frontline politics to head the International Rescue Committee (IRC) aid organisation.

Speaking in a personal capacity, Mr Miliband will say in a speech for the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign group: "My message is simple: Now is not the time for unilateral political disarmament...

"No nation in human peacetime history, never mind Britain, has voluntarily given up as much political power as we are being invited to throw away on 23 June."

He will add: "For what? A cold, hard lesson in the demon of hubris, born of delusion that the world owes us a break.

"A tragic miscalculation which weakens ourselves, our friends and the international order on which we depend."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36020610

"we live in an age of greater transparency" and "the answer is not to fight that age, it has arrived and it will come all the more".

But he said a "mature acceptance" was needed by the public that someone's personal finances will not necessarily determine their leadership abilities."

Tin Foil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duqSGsOTf28

Capt. 'Bob''s picture

St George's Day v Smaug

Submitted by Capt. 'Bob' on

"How can the UK still claim to be a major power, when the Country is on the brink of falling apart?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYOJZm0FXPw

"One legitimate foreign anxiety about the UK, is that even if the country does not actually break up, it is likely to go through a period of acute introspection, as it tackles difficult questions about national identity, the constitution and economic austerity."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThgKZQIfS7c

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/markets/impossible-choices-for-t...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvAauG7HQ7I

Ah, so ... 'Little Englanders'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36117907

St George - was a Turk somin to do with Libya ...

DYOW - Lawndry.

Bless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzzUGY0-WeQ

Captain Qahn's picture

EU: Shinzo Abe

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/leaving-eu-would-m...

"The North East was last year described as the “second home” of Japanese manufacturing, with the establishment of the Nissan factory in 1986 being followed by firms such as Komatsu, Nifco, Hitachi and Vantec.

At the time a study estimated that there were more than 50 businesses in the North East with Japanese owners or parents companies, and that they were responsible for 15,000 direct jobs and many more in their supply chains.

Pro-EU campaigners say inward investment into regions like the North East is dependent on the country remaining in Europe.

Speaking in London, Mr Abe said: “Japan very clearly wishes the UK to remain in the EU. It’s better for the world to have a strong EU.

“More than 1,000 Japanese companies have a presence here in the UK, employing more than 140,000 people. Many of these companies were set up precisely because the UK is a ‘gateway’ to Europe."

 

Benefitz Betty's picture

EU: Hitachi ... Scratching the Itch

Submitted by Benefitz Betty on

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/hitachi-becomes-la...

"“Over the recent years Hitachi has made significant investments in the UK across many of its businesses, with the UK now being the centre for Hitachi’s two largest overseas infrastructure projects, in rail and new nuclear power.

“Like many other international companies we invested here because of the UK’s strong economic fundamentals and rich access to talent. We are also in the UK in order to have access to the entire EU and European market. In particular for our manufacturing and supplies we depend on skills and parts which come from within the UK and Europe at large.

“We can understand that the EU is not perfect but the UK’s departure from the EU would create huge uncertainty for all Hitachi businesses in the UK in terms of economics, trade, skills and talent, and would affect the stability that the company needs for continued investment and long-term growth.

“We also believe that it would have negative impact upon the UK economy and carry significant risks for the remainder of the EU. Therefore we believe that a strong and united Europe with the UK in a single, open market offers the best conditions for Europe’s prosperity, and for Hitachi’s business.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsv21Qq3hOc

Benefitz Betty's picture

EU: Boy Wonder - Out for the Count

Submitted by Benefitz Betty on

http://www.politico.eu/article/osborne-u-k-governments-brexit-stance-the...

"The U.K. government is doing “a serious amount of contingency planning” for a possible Brexit, said Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on Wednesday. It was the first time Downing Street had admitted to doing so.

Speaking before the U.K. Parliament’s Treasury Select Committee, Osborne said financial volatility would be “very significant” and the government is working on a plan to try to mitigate it.

He also outlined the very serious consequences for the economy and national security that the government had highlighted before. The same predictions have been echoed by the Bank of England, MI6 and every major international observer and institution, including the OECD and IMF.

Osborne said in assessing how to vote, people should know that most economic experts, both domestic and international, have made it clear that Brexit would leave Britain permanently poorer.

“Even if equal air time is given to both sides, the weight of opinions isn’t equal and the opinion that counts is that leaving the EU would not make British families richer,” he said, dismissing the Leave campaign’s arguments that Brexit would improve the U.K.’s economic conditions.

This is the second time the chancellor has been grilled by the influential group of MPs, and it’s not likely to be the last in the lead-up to the June 23 referendum. The Treasury is expected to publish a second report on the costs of leaving the EU, following the one that stated that the impact of Brexit on GDP would add up to £4,300 (€5,443) per household."

http://www.politico.eu/article/bank-of-england-governor-denies-politics-...

Canny:

http://www.payvand.com/news/16/may/1069.html#.VzX6BVPDxrg.facebook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1XWJN3nJo

Benefitz Betty's picture

ESA: An Alternative 'Queens' Speech

Submitted by Benefitz Betty on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36311799

"Britain's first astronaut has said the UK risks becoming a "backward nation" if the government does not pay to send more people into space.

Helen Sharman believes the country would lose many of the benefits of Tim Peake's mission if a commitment to more flights is not made very soon.

Ms Sharman said that this was the UK's "last chance" to be involved "in the future of the human race"...

""Tim will continue with his training at the European Space Agency but if we don't fund any more then he won't get a second flight," she warned.

"We don't lose all the science that we have done, we don't lose the enthusiasm of the young people for science - but where are we in the UK? Just another backward nation that is not participating on the international stage, in the future of the human race?

"We are a travelling nation; we have explored for centuries and I think it's almost in our blood. It is something that Britain wants to do, Britain needs to do and we have got to continue that funding." ...

"Her Project Juno flight was backed by a consortium of private sponsors who were keen to see a Briton in orbit...."

"For two decades, successive governments chose to stay out of the European Space Agency's human spaceflight programme. In the meantime, more than half a dozen European countries sent astronauts into Earth orbit.

Then, in 2013, the coalition government did join, committing £27m in 2012 and further £49m in 2014. These contributions paved the way for Tim Peake's mission to the International Space Station (ISS). According to Ms Sharman, the UK became involved just in the nick of time."...

"Ms Sharman, however, believes robotic missions simply do not capture the imagination in the same way that sending astronauts into space does.

"When we think of the long-term future of the human race, this is connecting us with the rest of the world, where we are going to be living when we can't live on this planet anymore. I think Britain wants to be part of that."

 

Captain Qahn's picture

EU: Space - Inches

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

Two ;-) How far away is Tim Peake?

"....is due to return to Earth on Saturday, June 18 after more than 170 days in space."

"The trio were due to return to Earth on June 5 however their return was delayed. Mission controllers are keeping them aboard the space station to keep it fully manned with six astronauts for as long as possible during the changeover of its crews.

"Astronauts can grow up to three per cent taller while they are in space..."

Luurve the graphic :-)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/09/when-is-tim-peake-returning-t...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Hs2AQwDgA&list=PLQw_lbCD4XSZgnzhMOQ_cR...

Meanwhile, Erm ... Ouch?

http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/world-naked-bike-ride-c...

lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ_rZzFfNGU&index=2&list=PLQw_lbCD4XSZgn...

Ah, so ... http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/education/scarborough-school-prepare...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMFqkcPYcg&index=4&list=PLQw_lbCD4XSZgn...

Captain Qahn's picture

EU: The Irony ...

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

Oh, to understand the EU is to understand that the Brexit & Leave campaigners should feel right at home with the EU. With only one third of the European Parliament being left & centre left ... the EU centre right & far right run the roost :

https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jun/22/third-eu-governed...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11721146

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/05/22/world/europe/europe-right-...

The Labour Party sits within the S&D ... Progressive Alliance ... so yep, that is why voting to remain in the EU is critical, to challenge and bring balance...

Happiness is not a human right btw ;-/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36510651

Benefitz Betty's picture

EUFA : Russia Ban Suspension

Submitted by Benefitz Betty on

for very naughty behaviour :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/36413642

see, deportations not that difficult ...

Oh, OK .... lets take a peek at wot Putin says  ...

nowt. Sweet FA.

SNooze & The Local Tally Ban goes all out Brexit:

http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/local/brussels-political-elite-...

How ironic ;-/

Sterling down, Dollar up ...  Is the UK to be the 51st  State of the USA? 

Ah, so ...the Fifth

 

Captain Qahn's picture

EU: Cygnus to Dump In Pacific

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

Pigs in Space?

"The sixth Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo spacecraft is departing from the International Space Station (ISS). It was launched by the United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Florida, on March 23.

The spacecraft delivered around 3,400 kg of cargo to the ISS to maintain various scientific experiments. The Cygnus is set to return with over 1,360 kg of waste from the station, which is set to be incinerated over the Pacific Ocean on June 22.

https://www.rt.com/on-air/cygnus-cargo-spacecraft-iss/

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/cygnus.html...

Erm, Peake is due back on the 18th ...

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/14/11922630/nasa-iss-orbital-atk-cargo-ca...

"The Cygnus — which has been filled up with around 3,000 pounds of station trash — will remain in orbit around Earth for about a week before it eventually burns up in the planet’s atmosphere...

Just because the capsule is leaving the station doesn’t mean NASA is done with the vehicle quite yet. About five hours after the Cygnus departs the ISS — and gets far enough away — a large blaze will ignite inside the capsule’s belly. It’s all part of an experiment called Saffire-I meant to study how fire behaves in microgravity. A cotton-fiberglass material measuring more than 3 feet long and 1 foot wide will burn for 15 to 20 minutes inside Cygnus, creating the largest controlled fire ever in space. A suite of onboard sensors and cameras will collect data about the blaze and relay that information to NASA over the next week. That info will help the space agency come up with better ways to detect fires in space, as well as figure out how to control flames in zero G.

Apart from housing this science experiment, Cygnus is also responsible for deploying a couple satellites after it leaves ISS. Tomorrow morning, the capsule will let go of five Lemur-2 satellites, manufactured by satellite-maker Spire Global. These satellites will help track ships traveling in remote areas of the world’s oceans, as well as monitor weather.

As for the Cygnus capsule, NASA will destroy it on June 22nd. That’s when the vehicle’s engines will fire twice, taking the spacecraft out of orbit and triggering its descent toward Earth. Cygnus will then burn up somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, effectively getting rid of all the trash it has on board. Those items include broken hardware from ISS, food containers, dirty laundry, and astronaut waste, according to Holly Vavrin, the flight lead for the current Cygnus mission."

Oh. That's not very European.

Mind ... with a bit of luck it would land on Dodgy Dave's house.

Swans

Hmmm .. 3ft by 1ft ... tis not a Viking burial for ET is it?

Benefitz Betty's picture

Tim Peake - The Journey Home

Submitted by Benefitz Betty on

All the way there and back by Soyuz ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34727773

"The basic design for the Soyuz capsule was laid down as far back as the 1960s. It was originally intended to serve as the craft that would carry cosmonauts to the Moon.

When the US beat them to the lunar surface in 1969, the USSR's lunar programme was scrapped. But the Soyuz was retained, and became the Soviet - and subsequently Russian - vehicle of choice for launching humans to low-Earth orbit.

It was the craft that carried the first crew to the International Space Station in 2000, and has been the only craft ferrying humans to the orbiting outpost since the retirement of the US space shuttle in 2011....

"When crew members are ready to return to Earth, a command is given to start opening the hooks and latches that hold the Soyuz to the ISS. The spacecraft then separates from the space station at a graceful speed of 10cm/s (4ins/s). Once the Soyuz has reached a distance of 20m (66ft) the Soyuz fires its thrusters for 15 seconds.

When the capsule reaches a distance of 19km (12mi) from the ISS, the Soyuz makes its main "de-orbit burn", firing the engines for 4 minutes, 21 seconds to begin the return to Earth. The descent module carrying the crew separates from the empty orbital module which burns up in the atmosphere...."

"About 15 minutes before landing, the capsule deploys a drogue parachute to slow its descent speed from 230m/s (755 ft/s) to 80m/s (262 ft/s). The main parachute is then released, cutting the capsule's speed to 7 m/s (24ft/s) and shifting it to a vertical position.

Six engines fire on the underside of the capsule to cushion the craft just before it thuds down on the Kazakh steppe.

A recovery and rescue team then arrives to extract the crew members."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roNLe9vMKyQ

Captain Qahn's picture

YCR: Down To Earth

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

http://www.yorkshirecoastradio.com/news/national/2016635/tim-peake-ready...

"8:41am 17th June 2016

The final countdown to the end of Tim Peake's six-month mission on the International Space Station has begun.

At 2.15pm BST, the British astronaut will be part of the official change of command ceremony on board the ISS.

Then in the early hours of Saturday morning he'll strap into his seat on the Soyuz capsule for a stomach-churning plunge back to Earth.

He is due to touch down on the Kazakhstan steppe at 10.15am BST.

For Britain's only other astronaut, Helen Sharman, it was an experience she will never forget.

"It is probably the most dangerous time of the mission," she told Sky News.

"It's when it is most likely to leak air and if the capsule isn't properly orientated it can burn up.

"It is lumpy and bumpy, more physically demanding than the launch.

"It peaks at about 5.5G, which compared to weightlessness is incredibly heavy.

"It's hard to breathe because your rib cage is forced down onto the lungs."

At 6.52am BST on Saturday, Major Peake and his crew mates American Tim Copra and Russian Yuri Malenchenko will undock from the ISS.

Two-and-a-half hours later, at an altitude of 254 miles and orbiting at 17,300 mph, they will fire the main engine for precisely four minutes and 37 seconds to slow the spacecraft and take it out of orbit.

At an altitude of 62 miles the capsule will begin to brake further as it reaches the top of the atmosphere - and the cosmonauts will feel gravity for the first time since their launch from Baikonur last December.

The heat shield will reach a temperature of 1,600C and the air around the capsule will glow bright yellow as particles become charged from the intense energy.

The cosmonauts will feel a force of five times the Earth's gravity, with their rib cages pressing down on their lungs.

Eight minutes after re-entering the atmosphere, at an altitude of six miles the capsule’s speed will have slowed to 500mph and a series of parachutes will be deployed.

They further slow the capsule to just 15mph.

Then, less than two seconds before impact with the ground, six 'soft impact' retro-rockets will fire so the cosmonauts touch down at walking speed.

The crew will be lifted out of the capsule because they are likely to feel faint from spending so long in microgravity.

They will then undergo medical checks before boarding a helicopter for a two-hour flight to the nearest city, Karaganda.

They will be officially welcomed in a Kazakh ceremony before continuing their journey.

Raimund Lentzen, from the European Space Agency, is responsible for airlifting Major Peake back to the ESA's base in Cologne, Germany.

He said: "We are really relieved when we see a smooth landing and we hear via radio that the crew is doing fine.

"Once they come out of the capsule there is always some cheering."

Mebbe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYIvbZ5MffU

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36519885

;-) http://newsthump.com/2016/06/17/can-i-stay-up-here-it-sounds-really-shit...

"

With the people on Earth on a seemingly never-ending quest to find new ways to fuck each other over, UK astronaut Tim Peake has revealed his reluctance to return.

The former test pilot, who is due to return to Earth tomorrow, has asked the European Space Agency if there is any possible chance he might be able to stay off the planet a little longer.

Speaking from the International Space Station, Major Peake said, “Up here, people don’t get their head stamped on by football hooligans, killed for their beliefs or for not sharing someone else’s beliefs.

“They don’t get targeted because of their nationality, their faith, their sexuality or used as a scapegoat to whip up anti-immigration hysteria.

“They won’t be mocked if they are disabled or sneered at if they are poor.

“It’s a shame because the Earth looks beautiful from space.

“But then I remember it’s got people on it.”"

Captain Qahn's picture

Back To Earth - Peake, Chopra, Malenchenko

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

All on board ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36519885

No live link  til 9.00 am

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public

RT:   Rollercoaster

https://www.rt.com/viral/347234-peake-astronaut-iss-reentry/

"This is the most unsettling stage of the journey: as the craft plunges toward Earth at 25 times the speed of sound, atmospheric molecules dissociate and their atoms ionise, enveloping the vehicle in superheated plasma which raises the temperature outside to around 2,500 degrees C.

Once the capsule has decelerated past the plasma phase and has reached an altitude of 10.7km above the Earth's surface, parachutes open to further slow its descent. As the Soyuz floats to the ground, an engine fires to cushion its landing on the Kazakh steppe, scheduled for 10:15 BST."

"Major Peake began his journey alongside NASA’s Tim Chopra and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko from one of the world’s most historic spaceports - the Baikonur cosmodrome - back in December of 2015."

Everthing crossed X

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbphaKMepqY

Expedition 47...

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public

 

Captain Qahn's picture

Back on Earth

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

Awesome .... http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#public

Just waiting for some noise from inside the capsule... 

Obviously its a spectator sport.

(parachuting)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36519886

Erm?

Ah so ...

Screaming towards Earth at 25 times the speed of sound, the Soyuz was enveloped in a fiery ball of superheated plasma. During this phase, the crew members inside can be subjected to forces of about 5Gs - a level at which some people pass out.

As it neared the ground, the capsule deployed its parachutes to slow the descent, firing engines to cushion its landing on the steppe, near the Kazakh city of Dzhezkazgan at 10:15 BST.

Dr Simon Evetts, from the UK's Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, said: "During re-entry, Tim will undergo significant strain on his body and will also feel the effects of his landmark mission for weeks to come.

"Upon arrival, Tim will feel weaker due to muscle loss and reduced cardiovascular fitness, and will feel heavy in Earth's gravity."

Hoorah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DXiNke4WHI

Erm, wot about Chopra & Malenchenko ....

Mal? http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/06/10/malenchenko_homecoming/

Chopra? http://www.wdio.com/news/jeff-williams-takes-command-of-space-station/41...

Hmmm ....

;-0 https://www.rt.com/viral/347175-kraken-monster-found-antarctic/

Ah, so ...

A NASA jet was standing by to fly Kopra and Peake to Bodo, Norway, where Peake planned to catch a European Space Agency plane for a flight to the ESA astronaut training center at Cologne, Germany. Kopra will continue on to his home near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Mission duration was 185 days 22 hours and 11 minutes since blastoff Dec. 15, a flight covering 2,976 orbits and nearly 78 million miles.

Malenchenko, who logged 641.5 days aloft during five previous space flights, including a stay aboard the Russian Mir space station and a shuttle flight, boosted his total time in space to 827.4 days, moving him up to No. 2 on the list of most experienced space fliers. The record is held by Gennady Padalka, who has 878.5 days in space over five missions.

Kopra, veteran of a previous station visit, has now logged 244 days off planet while Peake, the second British citizen to fly in space and the first to visit the station, spent 186 days in orbit.

Left behind aboard the space station were Expedition 48 commander Jeffrey Williams and Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka, who arrived at the lab complex aboard the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft on March 18.

They'll have the station to themselves until July 9, when three fresh crew members -- Anatoly Ivanishin, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins -- arrive aboard the Soyuz MS-01 ferry ship."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/soyuz-capsule-brings-station-fliers-back-to-...

....

;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkK8g6FMEXE

If you can't be yourself ... be a pirate.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/rubins-k.pdf

Captain Qahn's picture

The 'Y' Factor

Submitted by Captain Qahn on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38718362

http://eurovisionworld.com/?eurovision=2017&event

Erm, no doubt the USA will be wanting entry?

ooh is that another 10 buttons flittered.

Yawnnnn

Mind the gaps ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3887586/Honey-m-home-NASA-astron...

Checkers.

Ah, so ;-)

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

OOh ah just a little bit 

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invites-media-to-pre-super-bowl-...

Hmmm.... kicking into orbit... tis a contest.... mind they'd probably want a referendum.

Zzzzzz