396:. Legs go in first, followed by the arms into the sleeves and head into the helmet. When the suit is on, an airtight seal is made by tightly rolling up the appendix and securing it with strong elastic bands. The large bulge of the rolled-up appendix is secured under the V-shaped flap in the suit's outer layer. When worn on the ground, the suit is attached to a portable ventilation unit—a hand-held device that supplies air to the suit, cooling it first with an ice filled heat exchanger. Grey leather outer boots are also worn on the ground; they protect the feet of the suit from damage and are removed before entering the spacecraft to avoid carrying debris into the cabin.
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below 600 hectopascals (0.59 standard atmospheres; 8.7 pounds per square inch), the suit's air supply is automatically replaced with oxygen from pressurized bottles at a rate of 22 litres (0.78 cubic feet) per minute. Both air and oxygen exhaust through the blue pressure relief valve at the center of the chest; this valve also regulates the pressure of the suit.
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To be donned, the Sokol-KM and KV split into upper and lower halves joined by zip fasteners. However, this feature was discarded in the Sokol-KV2 and the appendix was retained as a means of donning the suit—it was thought to be more reliable than the airtight zippers the
Russians were able to make.
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Each Soyuz crew member is provided with a made-to-measure suit for flight (although, from the numbers made, it appears that the suits provided for ground training are re-used). To ensure the suit fits correctly, the wearer spends two hours sitting in a launch couch with the suit inflated. Straps on
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The main improvement was the replacement of the rubber pressure layer of the Sokol-K with rubberized polycaprolactam to save weight. The visor was modified and enlarged to give the wearer a better field of view. Laces in the outer canvas layer were replaced with zippers to make the suit quicker to
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don and the pressure relief valve was moved from the left abdomen to the center of the chest so either hand could be used to alter the suit's pressure setting. The improved arms, legs, and gloves of the Sokol-KV were retained although the liquid cooled undergarment of the KM and KV was discarded.
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The suit is worn during launch and re-entry of the Soyuz spacecraft—the gloves are attached and the visor is sealed at these times. In an emergency, the suit pressure is usually maintained at 400 hPa (0.39 atm, 5.8 psi) above the ambient by the pressure relief valve. However, the suits only
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The suits weigh around 10 kilograms (22 lb) and are described by those who have used them as a considerable encumbrance when worn on the ground. Despite this, they are intended to be worn for up to 30 hours in a pressurized environment or two hours in a vacuum. They can also float and have a
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NPP Zvezda was given the task of providing the suits. They rejected the use of existing Soviet space suits and chose to base a new suit on the existing Sokol aviation pressure suit. The main modification was the replacement of the Sokol suit's hard helmet. Other features of the aviation suit that
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Electrical cables are mounted on the right abdomen of the suit, while the left abdomen has separate hoses for air and oxygen. Normally, an electric blower ventilates the suit with cabin air through the larger hose at the rate of 150 litres (5.3 cubic feet) per minute. If the cabin pressure drops
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sold for US$ 31,070 in 2009. These are usually worn out items that have been discarded after use during ground training and were never intended for use in space. As these items are nominally the property of the
Russian government, the legitimacy of their sale has been questioned.
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If more than limited movement is required, the pressure relief valve may be adjusted to a lower setting of 270 hPa (0.26 atm, 3.9 psi). Pure oxygen at this pressure will support life, but the setting is only intended for use in extreme emergencies; the risk of
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died when their spacecraft depressurized during re-entry. One of the recommendations of the investigating government commission was that pressure suits should be worn by future crews during critical phases of their mission—launch, docking and landing.
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The maximum length of time the suits may be used in a vacuum is 125 minutes. The time is limited because the oxygen flow to the suit is enough for life support, but insufficient to carry away the cosmonaut's body heat and longer use of the suit risks
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neck dam that allows the visor to be raised in water without the risk of flooding the suit. However, Soyuz crews are provided with buoyancy aids and cold-water survival suits which would preferably be used if the Soyuz accidentally landed in water.
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Sokol is often worn with a wristwatch, with an elastic band replacing the strap to allow it to fit over the bulky suit glove.The watches are often privately purchased, and a wide variety of Swiss and
Russian models have been used.
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on a wrist strap may also be worn, allowing an immediate check on cabin pressure and an additional method of advance warning to brace prior to touchdown, as during the last phase of landing the cabin opens to the outside air.
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Work on improving the Sokol-K began in 1973, immediately after its introduction. The Sokol-KM and KV were intermediate models on which many of the features of the Sokol-KV2 were developed, neither was ever used in space.
735:. As the balloonists would have occupied an open platform during their twelve-hour flight, the Sokol suits, together with heavily insulated outer garments, would have protected them from the cold and low pressure of the
713:, the first crewed Chinese spaceflight, closely resembles a Sokol-KV2 suit, but it is believed to be a Chinese-made version rather than an actual Russian suit. Derivative versions of Sokol continue to be worn by Chinese
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There is a suit pressure gauge on the left wrist. A mirror on an elastic wrist band is worn on the right, to help the wearer see beyond the suit's limited field of view. During re-entry, an
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The KM and KV also featured a liquid-cooled undergarment that would increase the comfort of the wearer by efficiently removing body-heat; other suits relied on the flow of air to do this.
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have a rudimentary pressure relief layer so they tend to balloon when inflated. Movement of the wearer becomes restricted, although it is still possible to pilot inside the capsule.
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At the same time, a life support system was developed in co-operation with OKB-1. The new suit was named Sokol-K, K (Kosmos) being the abbreviation of the
Russian word for space.
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equipment. This has the advantage of simplicity; the disadvantage of a high rate of oxygen consumption is considered acceptable given that it is only intended for emergency use.
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Other changes included alterations to the fabric around the joints, to improve mobility, and improvement of the gloves, to make it easier to operate the spacecraft controls.
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at an auction devoted to
Russian space history in 1993. Subsequently, components such as gloves, communications caps, and wrist mirrors have frequently come up for sale on
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visor mounted near the ears which seals with an anodized aluminum clavicle flange when closed, and a 'soft helmet' fabric hood which folds when the visor is raised.
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program. The suit was never used, as TKS never flew with a crew. Its main difference was that it was designed to work with a regenerative life support system.
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To don the suit, the two zips that make a 'V' on the chest are opened. Underneath, there is a large tubular opening in the inner pressure layer known as the
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wore modified Gemini spacesuits sharing some similarities with the Sokol suits, but with significant differences. Their suits were known as the
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today, though details of the suits' design differ slightly; they are also reported to weigh less than the
Russian version of Sokol.
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416:. If the capsule becomes depressurized, either accidentally or deliberately to extinguish a fire, it must land within that time.
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323:. The boots of the suit are integrated and unable to be removed. The gloves are removable, attaching to the suit via blue
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272:. Instead, its purpose is to keep the wearer alive in the event of an accidental depressurization of the spacecraft.
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space missions, but when the Soyuz spacecraft was being developed in the mid-1960s, its designers,
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Sokol suits have been bought for uses other than spaceflight. It was planned that the crew of the
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As of 2002, a total of 309 flight suits had been made along with 135 training and testing suits.
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becomes significant if the wearer spends more than 15 minutes at the lower pressure setting.
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Effectively, the suit uses an open-circuit life support system that somewhat resembles
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The modern version of Sokol consists of an inner pressure layer of rubberized
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space suits but these were only for spacewalks and were only worn in orbit.
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and it is not capable of being used outside the spacecraft in a spacewalk or
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as the balloon ascended to a height of around 40 km (130,000 ft).
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NASA's guide to the clothing of
International Space Station crewmembers
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The Sokol-KV2, the current version of the suit, was first used on the
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Sokol space suits, including ones flown in space, were first sold by
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high-altitude balloon would wear modified Sokol suits purchased from
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developed its own version of the Sokol space suit in the mid-1970s.
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purchased a number of space suits from the
Russians for use in the
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the arms, legs and chest allow the fit to be adjusted slightly.
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Talgat
Musabayev Space-flown Sokol KV-2 Pressurized Spacesuit
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were considered unnecessary were removed to save weight.
986:"Psst - Wanna Buy a Slightly Used Soviet Space Suit?"
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138:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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376:wearing an inflated Sokol-KV2 spacesuit (2007)
1271:Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG)
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441:The first version of the suit, first used on
280:Pressure suits were worn on the early Soviet
25:
8:
942:Isaak P. Abramov, A. Ingemar Skoog, (2003).
19:
1291:Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment (TMG / ITMG)
229:'Falcon') is a series of soft-body
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866:Isaac Abramov & Ingemar Skoog (2003).
613:are both wearing Sokol KV2 pressure suits.
237:. It was first introduced in 1973 for the
872:. Chichester, UK: Praxis Publishing Ltd.
257:. A version of Sokol is also used by the
198:Learn how and when to remove this message
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990:Wired Magazine, issue 13.04, April 2005
901:. European Space Agency. May 18, 2015.
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264:Sokol is described by its makers as a
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16:Soviet/Russian spacesuit used on Soyuz
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428:A Sokol-K spacesuit displayed at the
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515:which was to be used as part of the
511:A version intended for use with the
327:wrist couplings. Sokol has a hinged
136:adding citations to reliable sources
621:mission, launched on June 5, 1980.
1281:Primary Life Support System (PLSS)
1176:Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)
672:Use by countries other than Russia
445:, launched on September 27, 1973.
319:and an outer layer of white nylon
14:
463:Sokol aviation full pressure suit
1276:Maximum Absorbency Garment (MAG)
1171:Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES)
1151:Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)
905:from the original on 2021-12-21.
384:Sokol portable ventilation units
112:
34:
1011:, sale 6516, December 11, 1993.
430:Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics
123:needs additional citations for
655:Intra-vehicular activity (IVA)
576:Intra-vehicular activity (IVA)
295:On June 30, 1971, the crew of
1:
1353:Soviet and Russian spacesuits
1307:Extravehicular activity (EVA)
490:Intravehicular activity (IVA)
85:10–12 kg (22–26 lb)
1161:Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit
1022:, sale 6753, March 16, 1996.
964:Christopher Priest, (1993).
40:Sokol-KV2 on display at the
769:by their manufacturer, the
661:400 hPa (5.8 psi)
582:400 hPa (5.8 psi)
531:Sokol-KM on display at the
496:400 hPa (5.8 psi)
77:400 hPa (5.8 psi)
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703:China Manned Space Program
699:People's Republic of China
637:Sokol-KV2 Rescue Spacesuit
259:China Manned Space Program
1312:Astronaut propulsion unit
1241:Stratonautical space suit
809:Advanced Crew Escape Suit
558:Sokol-KV Rescue Spacesuit
219:
33:
26:
24:
1221:Constellation Space Suit
457:Sokol-K Rescue Spacesuit
1166:Launch Entry Suit (LES)
983:Christopher S. Stuart,
667:10 kg (22 lb)
588:12 kg (26 lb)
502:10 kg (22 lb)
270:extravehicular activity
1266:Hard Upper Torso (HUT)
1018:Sotheby's Catalogue –
1007:Sotheby's Catalogue –
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406:decompression sickness
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233:designed and built by
1033:NPP Zvezda's web site
1020:Russian Space History
1009:Russian Space History
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753:During the flight of
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533:Tellus Science Museum
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523:Sokol-KM and Sokol-KV
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247:Russian space program
42:Technik Museum Speyer
946:: Springer-Praxsis.
239:Soviet space program
132:improve this article
1236:Space activity suit
944:Russian Space Suits
804:Strizh (space suit)
771:David Clark Company
719:Shenzhou spacecraft
705:. The suit worn by
659:Operating Pressure:
580:Operating Pressure:
494:Operating Pressure:
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1317:Environmental suit
898:Fire in the Soyuz!
869:Russian Spacesuits
777:Collectors' market
717:on flights of the
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147:"Sokol space suit"
74:Operating pressure
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791:Heritage Auctions
325:anodized aluminum
243:Soyuz 11 disaster
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607:Yuri Malenchenko
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1196:Shenzhou IVA
1141:Navy Mark IV
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995:February 17,
993:. Retrieved
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968:, Gollancz.
965:
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943:
939:
933:Bibliography
922:
911:
897:
868:
780:
759:Frank Borman
752:
741:
737:stratosphere
723:
696:
693:space flight
688:
665:Suit Weight:
664:
658:
652:
646:
640:
634:
623:
616:
609:(front) and
605:, Commander
603:Expedition 7
601:The crew of
586:Suit Weight:
585:
579:
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541:
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510:
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188:January 2024
185:
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142:
130:Please help
125:verification
122:
104:
64:Manufacturer
1181:SpaceX suit
1074:Space suits
687:during the
311:Description
266:rescue suit
1342:Categories
1286:Snoopy cap
1259:Components
1110:Krechet-94
820:References
763:Jim Lovell
715:taikonauts
711:Shenzhou 5
707:Yang Liwei
690:Shenzhou 5
685:Yang Liwei
643:NPP Zvezda
564:NPP Zvezda
480:(1973) to
470:NPP Zvezda
235:NPP Zvezda
158:newspapers
68:NPP Zvezda
58:space suit
825:Citations
783:Sotheby's
757:in 1965,
729:QinetiQ 1
653:Function:
647:Missions:
619:Soyuz T-2
593:Sokol-KV2
574:Function:
568:Missions:
488:Function:
475:Missions:
336:altimeter
44:, Germany
1246:Z series
1226:Mark III
903:Archived
798:See also
755:Gemini 7
743:Bulgaria
507:Sokol-KR
482:Soyuz 40
478:Soyuz 12
443:Soyuz 12
420:Variants
394:appendix
297:Soyuz 11
98:Shenzhou
90:Used for
1327:SuitSat
1300:Related
1205:Feitian
1200:Haiying
1105:Yastreb
726:British
681:Chinese
437:Sokol-K
290:Yastreb
276:History
227:
216:Russian
172:scholar
1231:I-Suit
1146:Gemini
1115:Strizh
1100:Berkut
1081:Models
972:
950:
876:
733:Zvezda
484:(1981)
321:canvas
282:Vostok
174:
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160:
153:
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1190:China
1125:Orlan
1120:Sokol
635:Name:
611:Ed Lu
556:Name:
517:Almaz
455:Name:
352:scuba
286:OKB-1
220:Cокол
179:JSTOR
165:books
94:Soyuz
27:Cокол
20:Sokol
1095:SK-1
997:2006
970:ISBN
948:ISBN
874:ISBN
787:eBay
761:and
697:The
570:None
225:lit.
210:The
151:news
82:Mass
50:Type
767:G5C
709:on
134:by
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