Orlan (spacesuit)

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Cosmonaut Salishan Sharipov with an Orlan space suit on the International Space Station

The Orlan spacesuit ( Russian Орлан for eagle ) is a Russian space suit , in contrast to the Russian Sokol space suit for spacewalks is used. The space suit manufactured by NPP Zvezda was first used in 1977 and is currently mainly used for assembly work for the construction of the International Space Station (ISS).

variants

There are different versions of the Orlan spacesuit. The Orlan-D, Orlan-DM, Orlan-DMA, Orlan-M and Orlan-MK versions are or were used in space, the Orlan-GN, Orlan-T and Orlan-V models are used for training purposes. The Orlan-GN is used for training in the water basin, the Orlan-T for airlock maneuvers and the Orlan-V is used to practice flights in weightlessness .

The original Orlan spacesuit (maximum deployment time 2.5 hours) was developed as part of the Soviet lunar program . With Orlan-D the duration of use was extended to three hours, with Orlan-DM to nine hours. The Orlan-M and -MK models have a synthetic outer skin made of polyurethane, which is more stable and durable than the previous ones made of rubber. They weigh around 120 kg and are available for space travelers between 1.65 and 1.90 m.

The latest model is the Orlan MKS, which has been in use on the ISS since 2017. The most important innovations include a fully automatic temperature control system, a color display and the replacement of rubber parts with polyurethane parts. This eliminates the need for a replacement layer, which makes the suit lighter and more flexible. The time required to put on and take off has also been significantly reduced and the astronaut can put on and take off the suit on his own. The temperature control system regulates the suit temperature during outboard missions, the temperature is also adapted to the physical exertion and saves the user time and concentration, the astronaut can be more productive. The useful life has also been extended: the suit can spend up to six years in space and is approved for 15-20 exits.

The Orlan spacesuit has a rigid body and flexible arms and legs. The spacesuit is put on through an opening on the back. The first models were connected to the spaceship with a supply line for energy and communication. From the Orlan-DM version, a connection is no longer necessary.

history

The first outboard activity with an Orlan spacesuit took place on December 20, 1977 on the Soviet space station Salyut 6 . Yuri Romanenko and Georgi Gretschko tested the Orlan-D spacesuit. The Orlan DM spacesuit was first used on August 2, 1985 by cosmonauts Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Viktor Savinych on the Salyut 7 space station .

The Orlan DMA and Orlan M suits were used on the Mir space station . The Orlan DMA was first used on January 26, 1990 by Alexander Viktorenko and Alexander Serebrov . The first use of an Orlan-M was on April 29, 1997 by Wassili Ziblijew and Jerry M. Linenger . The Orlan-M spacesuit was used on the Mir space station until its abandonment and is currently used on the International Space Station (ISS) by Russian, American and European space travelers.

On February 3, 2006, a decommissioned Orlan space suit was equipped with an amateur radio transmitter and launched into orbit as a satellite called SuitSat-1 from board the ISS.

Since the docking of the Progress -M 65 with the ISS, Orlan-MK, the fifth generation of Orlan spacesuits, has been in space, which differs from previous models through extensive computer control.

Technical specifications

For model Orlan-M

  • Duration of use: 7 h
  • Internal pressure: 392 hPa (270 hPa emergency)
  • Oxygen: 1 kg each main and reserve
  • Cooling water: 3.6 kg
  • Guaranteed heat dissipation : 350 W
  • Electrical power consumption : up to 54 W.
  • Operating weight: 112 kg
  • Mission time: 15 missions or 4 years

Web links

Commons : Orlan space suits  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Space Travelers: Orlan-M Suit
  2. ↑ Spacewalk goes into overtime as cosmonauts deploy satellites, science collect. In: Spaceflight Insider. August 18, 2017, accessed June 1, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Orlan-MKS in the Russian Space Web
  4. ↑ New spacesuits for the ISS crew. ddp / Yahoo News, September 10, 2008
  5. ↑ Orlan. In: suzymchale.com. December 3, 2018, accessed November 14, 2019 .