Sokol space suit
The Sokol space suit (Russian Сокол for falcon) is a Russian spacesuit worn by all cosmonauts aboard the Soyuz spacecraft during takeoff, landing and coupling maneuvers. This type was the first time in 1973 for use and is still in use. From the Manufacturer NPP Zvezda he is referred to as a rescue suit, since it only serves to protect the astronauts in the event of pressure loss aboard the Soyuz spaceships. He has the same function as the well-known orange U.S. ACE suit, which was carried by the space shuttle astronauts during takeoff and landing of the space shuttle. With the Sokol suit no spacewalk is possible, but to serve, for example, the Russian Orlan -D space suits.
Description
The current version of the suit is called Sokol - KV2 ( Сокол КВ -2). It consists of an internal pressure sheath Kapron and an outer shell made of white nylon. The shoes are integrated in the suit, whereas the gloves are removable and are secured by means of a clutch from blaueloxiertem aluminum. The polycarbonate visor is attached to joints at ear level and closes in a closed state with an anodized aluminum flange on the suit off. The cap or helmet inner soft folds when the visor is opened. The space suit has four pockets on the legs and adjusting straps on arms, legs, chest and abdomen.
On his left wrist is the pressure gauge for internal pressure. A mirror is worn on the right wrist on an elastic band. This allows the cosmonauts to read instruments, which are usually outside its field of view. During the re-entry also an altimeter is worn to control the cabin pressure. Often a wristwatch is also secured with an elastic band over the space suit. Most are the watches Swiss or Russian origin and privately purchased.
Electrical and communication connections are right in belly height. The separate connections for the air and oxygen are provided on the left side. In the normal state, an electrically driven fan blowing air from the cabin at a rate of 150 l / min through the suit. If the cabin pressure falls below 600 hPa, the air supply is automatically replaced by compressed pure oxygen. The suit remains in this internal pressure, no matter how deep the cabin pressure drops. Air and oxygen leave the suit by the blue pressure relief valve in the center of the chest. Thus, the space suit is an open life support system, similar to a diving suit. This suit is very simple. A disadvantage is the high consumption of oxygen, but which is reasonable since the system is used only in an emergency.
The suits weigh about ten kilograms and are perceived by some media as a significant hindrance to the movement. They are designed to be worn for up to 30 hours in a normal pressure environment, and up to two hours under reduced pressure. In addition, the suits are buoyant and have a neck collar that prevents water from entering the suit. The Soyuz crews are equipped with buoyancy aids and cold-weather survival equipment for a Notfallwasserung.
By the end of the year 2002 309 airworthy and 135 test and tracksuits have been made. These figures have since increased even further by the use of the Soyuz spacecraft as ISS - Shuttle.
Application
Each cosmonaut is equipped with a handmade suit for spaceflight. It is very important that the suit fits perfectly. To check this, sit the future space travelers to adapt two hours landscaped Sokol suit in their customized Kazbek -U- bucket seat (Russian Казбек - У ) and the suit is set exactly with the straps on arms, legs and chest and amended as necessary. It is so strict attention to the precise fit of the suit in order to avoid injuries and bruises during takeoff and landing, where loads of several G occur. The exact adjustment of the seat and suit makes it necessary that the bucket seats must be transferred from a Soyuz spacecraft to the other, if the cosmonaut comes back with another as the start spaceship.
In order to get into the space suit, the two V -shaped open on the front -mounted zippers. Below that is a large tubular opening in the pressure shell, the appendix ( "Appendix" ) is called. The cosmonaut begins with the feet first, then leading his arms through the holes provided and inserted at the end of the head from the bottom of the helmet. Of the appendix is then tightly rolled (similar waterproof panniers with roll closure ) and fixed with elastic bands to seal. The bead of the coiled Appendix tucked under the V-shaped lid at the front. At the bottom worn, the space suit is connected to a portable ventilation device, which ensures the ventilation and cooling of the suit. To avoid damage to the feet of the suit, gray leather shoes are pulled over the suit on the ground. These must be removed before entering the Soyuz spaceship. This also contamination of cabin pressure is avoided.
The Sokol pressure suit worn during takeoff and landing, while the gloves on and pulled the visor closed. During an emergency of the suit holding an internal pressure of 400 hPa is usually the ambient pressure. The suit will thus swell a little and restrict the freedom of movement of the cosmonauts. The operation of the spaceship yet but should still be possible.
If the deterioration of the possibility of movement is too large, it is possible to adjust the blue relief valve to a lower pressure of 270 hPa ( backup mode). Then, the suit is provided with pure oxygen. Due to the risk of decompression sickness, this is only for absolute emergencies.
History
Pressure suits have already been taken into account in the Vostok flights. When the new Soyuz spacecraft was designed in the mid-1960s, the developers met in the design office OKB- 1, the controversial decision to no longer use them in the new space ships. Some of the early Soyuz missions had Jastreb space suits on board, but they were only used for extravehicular activities.
On June 30, 1971, the crew of Soyuz 11 died during re-entry, as the air escaped from their landing capsule due to a defective air valve. One of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry was that all future crews must wear pressure suits during critical phases ( takeoff, landing, coupling maneuver) their mission.
NPP Zvezda was given the task to develop new suits for the Soyuz. They rejected the takeover of existing space suits, because they have been developed either for a longer use in vacuum and / or were unsuitable for use in conjunction with the Kazbek bucket seats of the Soyuz spaceships. The designers under the direction of Guy Ilyich Severin developed a new model, based on the Sokol pressure suit for fighter pilots. Mainly, the new suit different by another helmet. Only for aviation equipment needed details were omitted, which helped reduce weight.
At the same time the life support system was developed in cooperation with Sergei Korolev's design office. The finished suit was called Sokol -K, where K stands for the cosmos.
Variants
Sokol -K
The original version of the Sokol suit was first used on the flight of Soyuz 12 in 1973. In contrast to the current model of the printing sleeve is made of rubber and the outer casing is not closed with the V-shaped zipper, but laced. The support of the suit had to this cotton underclothes carrying communications hood and a belt with biosensors.
Sokol -KR
The version Sokol -KR (Russian Сокол КР, "R" for regenerative) was developed for use with the TKS spacecraft which was part of the Almaz military program. The suit was never used because the TKS spacecraft were flying unmanned. The main difference is that this suit was designed to work with a regenerative life support system.
Sokol -KM and Sokol -KV
The work to improve Sokol -K began in 1973. The Sokol -KM (Russian Сокол КМ, "M" модификация for modified) and KV (Russian Сокол КВ "W" for ventilated) were intermediate models for the development of the Sokol - KV2 and were on no flight into space used.
Sokol -KM and KV consisted of an upper and a lower half, which was connected with zippers. This principle was abandoned for the more developed Sokol - KV2 and introduced the access through the appendix again. The developers decided that the suit would be thus more reliable than with the available air-tight zippers. Additional changes were to the outer fabric at the joints and the gloves, to facilitate the operation of the spacecraft.
In order to increase the comfort of both types were equipped with a water-cooled undergarments. To prevent the excess body heat could be dissipated efficiently. All other suits use to air.
Sokol - KV2
Sokol - KV2, the current version, was first used on the flight of Soyuz T-2 on 5 June 1980.
The main improvement over Sokol -K was the replacement of the existing rubber inner pressure shell with a rubberized Kapron, a polyamide. Thus, the weight of the suit could be reduced. The visor has been improved and enlarged to improve the field of vision of the cosmonaut. Strap to the outer shell were replaced by zippers to speed up the training and tightening. The pressure relief valve moved from the left side of the abdomen to the middle of the chest to allow an operator with both hands. The improvements on the arms, legs and gloves Sokol -KV were also taken, although the water-cooled underwear of KM and KV was not accepted. The price for such a suit should be 30,000 euros.
Developments in other countries
It is well known that China has bought a number of spacesuits from Russia for their space program. The suit of Yang Liwei, which he has worn during the first Chinese manned space flight with Shenzhou 5, looks like a Sokol - KV2, but it is believed that it is more of a Chinese replica. Images of taikonauts Fei and Nie Haisheng Junlong of Shenzhou 6 show slightly modified suits. It is also reported that they were more easily.
Sokol suits were bought for other applications. It was planned that the crew of the British altitude balloons QinetiQ should wear suits by NPP Zvezda 1 modified. Since the balloon driver should sit during flight in an open platform that had the Sokol suits, they are protected with thick warm outer clothing, from the cold and the low pressure in the stratosphere. The balloon should rise up to an altitude of 40 km. The project was abandoned after damage to the balloon.
Collectors' market
Sokol suits, including those with which cosmonauts were in space, were offered for the first time at Sotheby's in 1993 at auction with other items to the Russian space history. Then appeared on the Internet auction site eBay on equipment such as gloves, hoods communication and hand mirror and sometimes even complete suits. Usually it involves discarded worn- training equipment that has never been in space. These things are actually in Russia, so that the legality of the sale is doubtful. It is also believed that the Russian mafia is involved in the trade.
Specifications
As of December 31, 2002