[FPSPACE] TASS: Commission clears flight of new crew, space tourist to ISS

[Charles, John B. (JSC-SA2)]

This bit is interesting: "...The spacemen also handled several imaginary
emergencies, in particular a depressurization of the spacecraft
warranting a ballistic re-entry."

I did not know that a cabin depressurization invoked a ballistic
re-entry.  Seems to me that would make the re-entry phase doubly-hard,
unless they are afraid that the Sokol-portion of the life support system
is still at sufficient risk that the increased stress of a ballistic
re-entry is outweighed by a (slightly?) faster (Anybody know how much
faster?) return to the sensible atmosphere?

John Charles
Houston, Texas