MOSCOW, October 6. /TASS-DEFENSE/. The Zvezda Scientific and Production Enterprise is the only Russian producer of spacesuits. It also makes individual life-support systems for pilots and cosmonauts, rescue means for pilots and passengers, and air refueling systems. The enterprise marked 70 years of existence on October 2.
Zvezda CEO Sergey Pozdnyakov told TASS about the design of the lunar spacesuit, a contract for Orlan-ISS spacesuit for space walks, and trials of the catapult seat for the Prospective Airborne Complex of Long-Range Aviation (PAK DA) strategic bomber.
Spacesuits
Zvezda is designing several prospective spacesuits, including Sokol-M for the prospective Russian Orel spacecraft. The spacesuit and shock-absorbing Cheget seat will be ready for the time of the first flight. Sokol-M will not be tested on Soyuz MS spacecraft, as it has a life-support system that differs from Soyuz.
Pozdnyakov said life-support systems for Sokol-M had been made. The designers did not use the hermetic line, as they doubted its reliability and convenience in operation. They replaced it by a rigid releasable flange. Trials of the spacesuit may begin shortly and complete by the end of the year.
Zvezda also designed a toilet for Orel, which does not differ much from that of Soyuz MS. It is undergoing trials.
Pozdnyakov said the enterprise began to create three new Orlan-ISS spacesuits for space walks from the International Space Station. They will replace the available ones. He believes the new spacesuits can be ready in 18-24 months.
Western sanctions triggered problems with components, however they are not crucial due to diversified procurement. The Orlan-ISS schedule did not change, as electronics were procured eight-nine years ago in sufficient volumes. Some outdated elements will be replaced with modern ones. Zvezda is looking for alternative suppliers of electronic devices.
Lunar spacesuit
Zvezda has completed the first R&D stage to design a lunar spacesuit and determined its concept. The second stage will make a mockup to test mobility and ergonomics. The spacesuit is designed for operations on the Moon surface and has a modular scheme to simplify and accelerate maintenance.
Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov said in early October that the first landing of Russian cosmonauts on the Moon may take place in 2030.
Exoskeleton
Pozdnyakov said the enterprise had initiated the design of a spacesuit with exoskeleton elements. It is a difficult task, he said.
"It is difficult to obtain movement feedback for the exoskeleton to assist the movement. It is even more difficult to obtain it in a spacesuit under pressure," he said.
Nevetheless, Zvezda created an experimental sleeve with amplifiers. Pozdnyakov refused to disclose details, but only said the technology has demonstrated good mobility. There are also plans to design a spacesuit with new construction elements with bearing joints in the lower part to ease walking, running and jumping.
Russian Orbital Station
Pozdnyakov did not rule out that the lunar spacesuit may be used for the future Russian Orbital Station (ROS). The reusable cargo spaceship developed from Orel spacecraft can bring spacesuit modules back to Earth for maintenance and return to orbit.
Zvezda is ready to create an analogue of Chibis simulator for ROS to train the locomotor apparatus in weightlessness and prepare cosmonauts for the return to the Earth.
Orel seat, guns
Zvezda continues designing Cheget seat for Orel spacecraft. Trials are scheduled in 2023-2024.
In 2020, Pozdnyakov told TASS that Cheget can sustain much bigger load than Kazbek-UM seat of Soyuz - 100 g against 70 g. Cheget will be reusable as there will be no individual lodgment. The seat will be regulated to fit the anthropometric specifics of a cosmonaut. Cheget will have two shock absorbers to decrease vertical and lateral load.
Pozdnyakov said there have been no requests to return guns to the portable emergency set, which the cosmonauts carry during landing. Previously, there was a compact three-barrel pistol produced by Tula gunsmiths. However, the gun was later excluded from the emergency set.
Catapult seat
Trials of a prospective catapult seat for PAK DA strategic bomber are beginning. It will pass climate, resource, mechanical impact tests. The work is on schedule, Pozdnyakov said.
As for the catapult seat for the single-engine Checkmate fighter jet, Pozdnyakov said it is likely to use the catapult seat and oxygen systems of Su-35 and Su-57 jets to decrease costs.
Indian space program
Zvezda has produced shock-absorbing seats, rescue spacesuits and equipment for the Indian Gaganyaan manned space mission.
In August 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country would orbit the first Indian crew by August 2022. The flight was timed to the 75th anniversary of the liberation from British colonialism. A group of Indian astronauts has been trained in the Russian Star City. However, the flight was delayed by coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Now the Gaganyaan project continues.