posted 04-22-2017 01:55 PM               

Space Cover #414: Soviet "Space Bike"

On February 1, 1990, Alexander Serebrov performed experimental testing of the cosmonaut mobility device SPK (rus – Средство Передвижения Космонавта, later christened a "Space Bike") and reached the distance of 33 meters from the Mir station. The SPK was designed by Guy Severin's Zvezda together with NPO Energia inspired by successful testing and application of NASA MMU in 1984. SPK was planned to be used supporting Buran program to transport cargos and assist in free maneuvering up to 100 meters distance from the spaceship.

During the first test Serebrov encountered several issues and generally was not able to fully estimate the capabilities of the device. Additional unplanned 5th EVA was granted to the cosmonauts on Feb 5 when Alexander Viktorenko used SPK to reach 45 meters distance from MIR and run a full circle around the station. SPK performance was proved to be unsatisfactory as it was cumbersome to operate and very hard to make any kind of movements while tightly buckled inside.

The above cover was postmarked on the day of first SPK test in Tsiolkovsky museum in Kirov and signed by Alexander Serebrov. It has a very interesting cachet devoted to the event saying – "First EVA using SPK by cosmonaut A. Serebrov".

With the closure of Buran program all the SPK activities have been ceased. Having performed only two test runs and lacking a traditional for soviet space program nickname, SPK found its place in astrophilately like on this 1990 Cosmonautics day issue.

Interestingly, the Russian cover issued in 1992 towards International Space Year showed NASA MMU. Probably the designer had no picture of the SPK and used a well-known image of Bruce McCandless MMU testing during STS-41-B mission back in 1984.

Would be happy to see other SPK cachets.