Soyuz Q & A

[Stan Black]

On pictures like these, you can see clearly where is the main parachute compartiment (open) and where is the backup one (closed).

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/vaisseaux/soyouz/visite/reels/30/30.html

And on Zond; the hole was used for the entry hatch?

[pat Whitaker]

A Soyuz parachute question I have been asked and have no idea about: are the main and reserve/backup parachutes stored in one compartment (with one hatch opening) or two? I have done some searching but can't come up with a clear answer or diagram! The screenshot below from "Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft" shows only one hatch, but it looks like there is another on the side.

Main and backup parachutes are stored in two separate compartments. Each compartment has its own hatch. The left parachute is the main, the right one is the backup.

The original question relates to this image (and plenty of others like it).

http://cryptome.org/info/soyuz-tma19/pict17.jpg

The main 'chute (and it's drogue and braking 'chute have obviously been deployed, and the cover of the backup 'chute is in place, so what is the apparent packed 'chute still in the parachute compartment?

[JayP]

A Soyuz parachute question I have been asked and have no idea about: are the main and reserve/backup parachutes stored in one compartment (with one hatch opening) or two? I have done some searching but can't come up with a clear answer or diagram! The screenshot below from "Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft" shows only one hatch, but it looks like there is another on the side.

Main and backup parachutes are stored in two separate compartments. Each compartment has its own hatch. The left parachute is the main, the right one is the backup.

The original question relates to this image (and plenty of others like it).

http://cryptome.org/info/soyuz-tma19/pict17.jpg

The main 'chute (and it's drogue and braking 'chute have obviously been deployed, and the cover of the backup 'chute is in place, so what is the apparent packed 'chute still in the parachute compartment?

That is not a parachute pack. It is a ballon that is inflated to help force the cute's deployment bag out of the compartment.

[pat Whitaker]

That is not a parachute pack. It is a ballon that is inflated to help force the cute's deployment bag out of the compartment.
[/quote]

Thanks Jay, that makes sense,as there didn't really seem to be enough room left for the 'chutes.

[Zero-G]

What is the purpose and function of the blue stick with the handgrip on top, which is installed on the "Kazbek" seats in the Soyuz descent module? (see first two photos)
There is one of these blue sticks on every seat, but they don't seem to be linked together. (see last photo I made of one of the Soyuz sims at TsPK)

[Jim]

PTT button

[Kyra's kosmos]

What is the purpose and function of the blue stick with the handgrip on top, which is installed on the "Kazbek" seats in the Soyuz descent module? (see first two photos)
There is one of these blue sticks on every seat, but they don't seem to be linked together. (see last photo I made of one of the Soyuz sims at TsPK)

ZG, While youre asking, theres another crucial accessory control (rarely seen) to be aware of: The Manual Descent Controller. (If you know of it just ignore this)
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/vehicles/soyuz/descent.asp
Credit: Originally posted by Chris Hadfield

[Zero-G]

PTT button

Thanks for your reply.
So, the only purpose of these sticks is to provide a place within reach of each crewmember where the PTT buttons can be mounted?

ZG, While youre asking, theres another crucial accessory control (rarely seen) to be aware of: The Manual Descent Controller. (If you know of it just ignore this)
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/vehicles/soyuz/descent.asp
Credit: Originally posted by Chris Hadfield

Thanks for your post. I was aware of the Manual Descent Controller, but have never seen one in reality. This leads me to another question: If it needs to be used, can it be attached somewhere for the time of the descent? Maybe to one of the blue sticks I mentioned above? (I figure the Controller is stowed away somewhere during the mission until reentry.)
I imagine that it could be quite difficult to hold on to it with the Sokol suit's gloves, while experiencing some Gs. It must be even more difficult in a scenario where the suit is pressurized for whatever reason. And I am sure you don't want to drop your only means of control during a manual descent of your spacecraft.

[TJL]

I'm not sure if this question has been asked before....it's a well known fact that the ride back to Earth in Soyuz has been paraphrased by some as being "pretty wild".

I've never heard those type of remarks from astronauts that flew on Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft.

Not including the actual touchdown, was the entry of the U.S. spacecraft much smoother than Soyuz, and if so...why?

[zt]

Without any specific knowledge, I guess the times were more patriotic and the astronauts had not flown in Shuttle, so had nothing else (orbital) to compare against. I see no reason why Soyuz is worse than other capsules designed in the 1960s. Americans who have flown in Soyuz have also flown in Shuttle and so compare it to Shuttle which has a nicer landing, though supposedly shakier launch. What did John Glenn say about his two flights?