Orlan space suit
An Orlan space suit is a space suit in a series of semi-rigid space suit models designed and built by NPP Zvezda. They have been used for extra-vehicular activity (EVA), also called spacewalks, in the Soviet space program, the Russian space program, and by space programs of other countries, including China and NASA.[1][2][3] The Orlan series is named for the Russian word for 'sea eagle', Орлан.
Design
The Orlan space suit has gone through several models. Designations include the Orlan-D, Orlan-DM, Orlan-DMA, and Orlan-M (models used in space), and Orlan-GN, Orlan-T, and Orlan-V (used in training).[4][5]
The original Orlan suit, with a two and a half hour operation time, was designed for use on the Moon as part of the Soviet Lunar programme, although it was abandoned in favour of a model with a greater operating capacity. The Orlan-D expanded the operation time to three hours; the Orlan-M to nine hours.
The Orlan space suit is semi-rigid, that is, it has a solid torso and helmet but flexible arms.[6] It was designed with a rear hatch entry through the attached backpack that allows it to be donned relatively quickly (taking approximately five minutes). The first Orlan suits were attached to the spacecraft by an umbilical tether that supplied power and communications links. The Orlan-DM, and all models since, were designed to be self-sustaining.
History
The first spacewalk using an Orlan suit took place on December 20, 1977, on the Soviet space station Salyut 6, during the Soyuz 26 mission. Yuri Romanenko and Georgi Grechko tested the Orlan-D space suit. The Orlan-DM was used for the first time on August 2, 1985, by the cosmonauts Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Viktor Savinykh of Salyut 7.
The Orlan space suits were used for spacewalks on the Salyut stations, but for Mir they were replaced by the Orlan-DMA and Orlan-M suits: The Orlan-DMA was used for the first time in November, 1988, by the cosmonauts Musa Manarov of Mir space station. The Orlan-M continued to be used on Mir until the end of the station's operational life since 1997, and is now used on the International Space Station. Orlan space suits have been used by Russian, American, European and Chinese astronauts. China calls their Orlan-M suits Haiying (海鹰).
On February 3, 2006, a retired Orlan fitted with a radio transmitter, dubbed SuitSat-1, was launched into orbit from the International Space Station.[7][8][9]
Training
Orlan suits are used in the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center in Star City, Moscow: the Orlan-GN for water immersion training, the Orlan-T for airlock procedure training, and the Orlan-V for low gravity flight training.
See also
- Space suit
- Sokol space suit
- Manned Maneuvering Unit
- List of spacewalks
- List of Mir spacewalks
- List of ISS spacewalks
- List of spacewalks and moonwalks
- List of cumulative spacewalk records
References
- ^ NASA (1997). "NASA Press Briefing". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ ESA (2004). "Orlan spacesuit". European Space Agency.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Encyclopedia Astronautica (2007). "Orlan Space Suit". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ NPP InterCoS (2007). "Zvezda's Museum and Spacesuit Photo Report". NPO International Cooperation in Space.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Jonathan McDowell (2000). "The History of Spaceflight Chapter 7.2: Zvezda Orlan spacesuits".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ JSC RD&PE "Zvezda". "Space Suits". JSC RD&PE "Zvezda", Russia.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Tariq Malik (2006). "So Long, SuitSat: Astronauts Launch Spacesuit in ISS Spacewalk". Space.com.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Robert Z. Pearlman for CollectSpace.com (2006). "Orlan Overboard: The Suit Behind the Sat". Space.com.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Space Today Online (2006). "Suitsat: An empty spacesuit broadcasting to Earth". Space Today Online.
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External links