Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Soviet - Russian Space
  Soyuz and Progress outer fabric covering

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Soyuz and Progress outer fabric covering
rasorenson
Member

Posts: 96
From: Santa Clara, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 11-04-2011 11:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rasorenson   Click Here to Email rasorenson     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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

posted 11-05-2011 12:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for kyra   Click Here to Email kyra     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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

posted 11-07-2011 10:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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

posted 11-07-2011 01:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement