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Author
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Topic: Soyuz and Progress outer fabric covering
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rasorenson Member Posts: 96 From: Santa Clara, CA, USA Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 11-04-2011 11:04 PM
I never thought much about what appears to be gray fabric covering the Soyuz and Progress modules. Anyone know the purpose and make up of this material? Wondering if it has to do with temperature insulation for long duration exposure docked at the space station... |
kyra Member Posts: 583 From: Louisville CO US Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 11-05-2011 12:16 AM
You're right about the insulation's purpose: During the orbital flight the spacecraft is protected from overheat/overcooling by covering all the outer surface of its modules with multi-layer vacuum shield thermal insulation except the operation surfaces of the sensors, antennae, windows, docking assembly, and the thermal control system radiator. Its Russian acronym is ЭВТИ, long for экранно-вакуумная теплоизоляция or Shield Vacuum Thermal Insulation. It apparently is in many layers of metalized film and fiberglass cloth. It has been on every Soyuz and Progress flight since the first. |
Jay Chladek Member Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 11-07-2011 10:20 AM
It isn't all that different from the blanket coverings used in shuttle payload bays. The darker colorings utilized are interesting, but I imagine the Russians do that to help with even thermal exposure (not too hot, not too cold) as their craft are designed to stay docked in a powered down state for about six months). It can be critical to get just enough heat into a spacecraft as opposed to it being too hot or two cold. Since a docked ship can't do a passive thermal control roll when docked (the so-called BBQ roll), the spacecraft has no control over its solar exposure. |
Jim Behling Member Posts: 1463 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 11-07-2011 01:08 PM
quote: Originally posted by Jay Chladek: It isn't all that different from the blanket coverings used in shuttle payload bays.
Actually, they are different. The Soyuz blankets are much thicker and made of different materials. | |
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