re: #421 Dopamine Fish

One of which, the Crew Dragon, has docked with the ISS before, albeit on a test flight. If they can get a Dragon flight on the pad in a short time frame (short by spaceflight standards), there’s little reason to fear.

TBH, I’d be more worried for Vande Hei’s safety if the Russians DID take him back, rather than just leaving him on the ISS. While I realize it sounds like the plot from some TV sci-fi thriller, I’d be more concerned that the Russians would sub out the usual replacement cosmonaut crew with a couple of “reliable” military guys, and simply seize the Space Station for Mother Russia (as a “reparation” for Earthbound asset seizures), and threaten to destroy it. Or use it as a propaganda platform - and then destroy it….