Strizh
Encyclopedia
Strizh is a space suit
that was originally developed for the crew of the Russian Buran
space shuttle
and resembled the Sokol space suit
worn by Soyuz crew members. It was designed to protect cosmonauts during a possible ejection from the spacecraft at altitudes of up to 30 km and speeds of up to Mach
3; the Buran was designed to incorporate ejection seats similar to those found on the Space Shuttles Enterprise
and Columbia
(the latter later having the seats removed after the STS-4
mission).
The Strizh suits were constructed from olive drab colored nylon
canvas
with silver trim and lined with rubberized fabric and fitted with connectors for electrical, air and coolant umbilicals. They had an attached pressurized hood with a hinged visor fastened to an anodized aluminum flange. The sleeves had adjustable articulating cables fitted in the upper arms, while a support sling wrapped from chest to back by means of webbing belts and a metal harness. The gloves were detachable and fitted with rubber fingers and leather palms. The suit also had pleated knee sections. Utility pockets on the suit's thighs were intended to hold survival gear, such as a folding knife, a pistol and other items. A pressure gauge was fitted on the left sleeve and a pressure equalisation valve on the chest.
The Strizh Spacesuit and the Buran ejection seat were tested during the ascent of a Soyuz booster in a series of five Progress launches (Progress 38 through 42) during 1988-1990.
The Strizh pressure suit, like its U.S. Air Force counterpart (itself based on the X-15 and Gemini space suit
and now used as part of NASA's Advanced Crew Escape Suit
), is still in use for all Russian high-altitude aircraft that lack pressurized cabins.
Name: Strizh Rescue Spacesuit
Derived from: Baklan full pressure suit
Manufacturer: NPP Zvezda
Missions: Used on mannequins on the unmanned space shuttle Buran flight 1k1
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA) and Ejection
Operating Pressure: 5.8 psi (400 hPa)
Suit Weight: 40 lb (18 kg)
Space suit
A space suit is a garment worn to keep an astronaut alive in the harsh environment of outer space. Space suits are often worn inside spacecraft as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for extra-vehicular activity , work done outside spacecraft...
that was originally developed for the crew of the Russian Buran
Shuttle Buran
The Buran spacecraft , GRAU index 11F35 K1 was a Russian orbital vehicle analogous in function and design to the US Space Shuttle and developed by Chief Designer Gleb Lozino-Lozinskiy of Energia rocket corporation...
space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
and resembled the Sokol space suit
Sokol space suit
The Sokol space suit is a type of Russian space suit, worn by all who fly on the Soyuz spacecraft. It was introduced in 1973 and is still used . The Sokol is described by its makers as a rescue suit, and it is not capable of being used outside the spacecraft in a spacewalk or extra-vehicular...
worn by Soyuz crew members. It was designed to protect cosmonauts during a possible ejection from the spacecraft at altitudes of up to 30 km and speeds of up to Mach
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
3; the Buran was designed to incorporate ejection seats similar to those found on the Space Shuttles Enterprise
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first Space Shuttle orbiter. It was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform test flights in the atmosphere. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield, and was therefore not capable of spaceflight...
and Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...
(the latter later having the seats removed after the STS-4
STS-4
STS-4 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, using the Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission launched on 27 June 1982 and landed a week later on 4 July. STS-4 was the fourth shuttle mission overall, and was also the fourth mission for the Columbia.-Crew:...
mission).
The Strizh suits were constructed from olive drab colored nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
canvas
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
with silver trim and lined with rubberized fabric and fitted with connectors for electrical, air and coolant umbilicals. They had an attached pressurized hood with a hinged visor fastened to an anodized aluminum flange. The sleeves had adjustable articulating cables fitted in the upper arms, while a support sling wrapped from chest to back by means of webbing belts and a metal harness. The gloves were detachable and fitted with rubber fingers and leather palms. The suit also had pleated knee sections. Utility pockets on the suit's thighs were intended to hold survival gear, such as a folding knife, a pistol and other items. A pressure gauge was fitted on the left sleeve and a pressure equalisation valve on the chest.
The Strizh Spacesuit and the Buran ejection seat were tested during the ascent of a Soyuz booster in a series of five Progress launches (Progress 38 through 42) during 1988-1990.
The Strizh pressure suit, like its U.S. Air Force counterpart (itself based on the X-15 and Gemini space suit
Gemini Space suit
The Gemini space suit is a space suit worn by astronauts for launch, in-flight activities and landing. It was designed by NASA based on the X-15 high-altitude pressure suit...
and now used as part of NASA's Advanced Crew Escape Suit
Advanced Crew Escape Suit
The Advanced Crew Escape Suit or "pumpkin suit", was a full pressure suit that began to be worn by Space Shuttle crews after STS-65, for the ascent and entry portions of flight. The suit is a direct descendant of the U.S...
), is still in use for all Russian high-altitude aircraft that lack pressurized cabins.
Specifications
Allowed ejections up to an altitude of 30 km (100,000 ft) and speeds up to Mach 3.Name: Strizh Rescue Spacesuit
Derived from: Baklan full pressure suit
Manufacturer: NPP Zvezda
Missions: Used on mannequins on the unmanned space shuttle Buran flight 1k1
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA) and Ejection
Operating Pressure: 5.8 psi (400 hPa)
Suit Weight: 40 lb (18 kg)