Voskhod spacecraft
Encyclopedia
The Voskhod was a spacecraft
built by the Soviet Union
's space program for human spaceflight
as part of the Voskhod programme
. It was a development of and a follow-on to the Vostok spacecraft
. Voskhod capsules were only used for two manned space flights and were superseded by the Soyuz spacecrafts.
The Voskhod craft consisted of a spherical descent module (diameter 2.3 meters), which housed the cosmonaut
s, and instruments, and a conical instrument module (mass 2.27 tonnes, 2.25 m long, 2.43 m wide), which contained propellant and the engine system.
In order to create more space inside the descent module, the cosmonaut's ejection seat was removed, meaning that the Voskhod crews would return to Earth inside their spacecraft, unlike the Vostok cosmonauts who ejected and parachuted down separately. The lack of space also meant that the Voskhod 1 crew did not wear space suit
s. Both crew members wore spacesuits on the Voskhod 2 mission, as it involved an EVA and used an airlock. The second crew member wore a spacesuit as a precaution against the possibility of accidental descent module depressurization. Because the crew was required to land with the descent module, a new landing system to slow the craft was developed. This added a small solid-fuel rocket to the parachute lines. It fired as the descent module neared touchdown, providing a softer landing than did Vostok. A backup solid-fuel retrorocket was added to the top of the descent module. The original Vostok spacecraft only had one liquid fuel retrorocket and no provision for backup. The Vostok did carry enough onboard supplies for a 10-day flight. This would allow for natural orbit decay and reentry if the retrorocket failed. Finally, the Voskhod 2 spacecraft carried a large inflatable airlock that allowed cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov
to exit and re-enter the craft. This was needed because the vehicle's electrical and environmental systems were air-cooled, and complete capsule depressurization would lead to overheating.
The airlock carried on Voskhod 2 weighed 250 kg, was 700 mm in diameter, 770 mm high when collapsed for launch. When extended in orbit, the airlock was 2.5 m long. It had an internal diameter of 1.0 m and an external diameter of 1.2 m.
It was carried into orbit by the Voskhod rocket
, also developed from the earlier Vostok rocket
and ultimately derived from the R-7 ICBM.
.
Maximum diameter: 0.3 m
Total mass: 143 kg
Propellant mass: 87 kg
Thrust: 117.7 kN
Propellant: solid
Specific impulse: 224 s
Delta v: 60 m/s
spacecraft.
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
built by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's space program for human spaceflight
Human spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
as part of the Voskhod programme
Voskhod programme
The Voskhod programme was the second Soviet human spaceflight project. Two manned missions were flown using the Voskhod spacecraft and rocket, one in 1964 and one in 1965....
. It was a development of and a follow-on to the Vostok spacecraft
Vostok spacecraft
The Vostok was a type of spacecraft built by the Soviet Union. The first human spaceflight in history was accomplished on this spacecraft on April 12, 1961, by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin....
. Voskhod capsules were only used for two manned space flights and were superseded by the Soyuz spacecrafts.
The Voskhod craft consisted of a spherical descent module (diameter 2.3 meters), which housed the cosmonaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s, and instruments, and a conical instrument module (mass 2.27 tonnes, 2.25 m long, 2.43 m wide), which contained propellant and the engine system.
Design
The Voskhod spacecraft is basically a Vostok spacecraft that has had a backup, solid fuel retro rocket, added to the top of the descent module. The ejection seat was removed and two or three crew couches were added to the interior at a 90-degree angle to that of the Vostok crew position. In the case of Voskhod 2, an inflatable exterior airlock was also added to the descent module opposite the entry hatch. After use, the airlock was jettisoned. There was no provision for crew escape in the event of a launch or landing emergency. A solid fuel braking rocket was also added to the parachute lines to provide for a softer landing at touchdown. This was necessary because, unlike the Vostok, the crew lands with the Voskhod descent module.In order to create more space inside the descent module, the cosmonaut's ejection seat was removed, meaning that the Voskhod crews would return to Earth inside their spacecraft, unlike the Vostok cosmonauts who ejected and parachuted down separately. The lack of space also meant that the Voskhod 1 crew did not wear space suit
Space suit
A space suit is a garment worn to keep an astronaut alive in the harsh environment of outer space. Space suits are often worn inside spacecraft as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for extra-vehicular activity , work done outside spacecraft...
s. Both crew members wore spacesuits on the Voskhod 2 mission, as it involved an EVA and used an airlock. The second crew member wore a spacesuit as a precaution against the possibility of accidental descent module depressurization. Because the crew was required to land with the descent module, a new landing system to slow the craft was developed. This added a small solid-fuel rocket to the parachute lines. It fired as the descent module neared touchdown, providing a softer landing than did Vostok. A backup solid-fuel retrorocket was added to the top of the descent module. The original Vostok spacecraft only had one liquid fuel retrorocket and no provision for backup. The Vostok did carry enough onboard supplies for a 10-day flight. This would allow for natural orbit decay and reentry if the retrorocket failed. Finally, the Voskhod 2 spacecraft carried a large inflatable airlock that allowed cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov
Aleksei Leonov
Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov is a retired Soviet/Russian cosmonaut and Air Force Major General who, on 18 March 1965, became the first human to conduct a space walk.-Biography:...
to exit and re-enter the craft. This was needed because the vehicle's electrical and environmental systems were air-cooled, and complete capsule depressurization would lead to overheating.
The airlock carried on Voskhod 2 weighed 250 kg, was 700 mm in diameter, 770 mm high when collapsed for launch. When extended in orbit, the airlock was 2.5 m long. It had an internal diameter of 1.0 m and an external diameter of 1.2 m.
It was carried into orbit by the Voskhod rocket
Voskhod rocket
The Voskhod rocket was a derivative of the Soviet R-7 ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme but later used for launching Zenit reconnaissance satellites. It combined the R-7 with an upper stage that had been originally designed to launch interplanetary probes.There was only one main...
, also developed from the earlier Vostok rocket
Vostok rocket
Vostok was a family of rockets derived from the Soviet R-7 Semyorka ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme. This family of rockets launched the first artificial satellite and the first manned spacecraft in human history...
and ultimately derived from the R-7 ICBM.
Vostok 3KV (1964)
Also known as Voskhod. Adaptation of the Vostok spacecraft for three cosmonauts. This version flew twice, on 6 October 1964 unmanned (as Cosmos 47) and on 12 October 1964 manned as Voskhod 1Voskhod 1
Voskhod 1 was the seventh manned Soviet space flight. It achieved a number of "firsts" in the history of manned spaceflight, being the first space flight to carry more than one crewman into orbit, the first flight without the use of spacesuits, and the first to carry either an engineer or a...
.
Basic data
- Crew size: 3 (without spacesuits)
- Endurance: 14.0 days
- Overall length: 5.0 m
- Maximum diameter: 2.4 m
- Total mass: 5,682 kg
- Propellant mass: 362 kg
- RCS total impulse: not available
- Primary engine thrust: 15.83 kN
- Main engine propellants: nitrous oxide/amine
- Total spacecraft delta v: 215 m/s
- Power: batteries; 24.0 kW total
Reentry module
- Crew size: 3
- Diameter: 2.3 m (sphere)
- Total mass: 2,900 kg
- Attitude control: none
- Environment: oxygen + nitrogen at 1 atm
- Controls: as Vostok 3KA
- Navigation indicator: Globus IMP navigation instrument version 3Voskhod Spacecraft "Globus" IMP navigation instrumentthumb|right|200px|IMP Globus instrument Globus IMP instruments were spacecraft navigation instruments used in Soviet and Russian manned spacecraft...
- Landing system: Sphere made ballistic reentry, with shield side seeking correct orientation by virtue of the center of gravity being aft of the center of the sphere.
- Parachutes: single with suspended retrorocket package for soft landing. Crew stayed within the capsule.
Equipment module
- Length: 2.3 m
- Maximum diameter: 2.4 m
- Total mass: 2,300 kg
- Propellant mass: 275 kg
- Reaction control system
- thrusters: not available
- propellant: cold gas (nitrogen)
- specific impulse: not available
- total impulse: not available
- Retro-rockets
- thrust: 15.83 kN
- propellant: nitrous oxide/amine
- specific impulse: 266 s
- delta v: 155 m/s
- Power: batteries; 24.0 kW total, 0.20 kW average
Auxiliary retrorocket module
Length: 0.6 mMaximum diameter: 0.3 m
Total mass: 143 kg
Propellant mass: 87 kg
Thrust: 117.7 kN
Propellant: solid
Specific impulse: 224 s
Delta v: 60 m/s
Voskhod 3KD (1965)
This version flew twice, on 22 February 1965 unmanned (as Cosmos 57) and on 18 March 1965 manned as the Voskhod 2Voskhod 2
Voskhod 2 was a Soviet manned space mission in March 1965. Vostok-based Voskhod 3KD spacecraft with two crew members on board, Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov, was equipped with an inflatable airlock...
spacecraft.
Reentry Module
Reentry Module: Voskhod SA. Also known as: (sphere).- Crew Size: 2
- Length: 2.3 m
- Diameter: 2.3 m
- Mass: 2,900 kg
- Heat Shield Mass: 837 kg
- Recovery equipment: 151 kg
- Parachute deploys at 2.5 km altitude
- Crew lands in spacecraft. Touchdown rocket softens landing.
- Ballistic reentry acceleration: 8 g (78 m/s²)
Equipment Module
Equipment Module: Voskhod PA. Also known as: .- Length: 2.25 m
- Diameter: 2.43 m
- Mass: 2,300 kg
- Equipment in pressurized compartment
- RCS Propellants: Cold gas (nitrogen)
- RCS Propellants: 20 kg
- Main Engine (TDU): 397 kg
- Main Engine Thrust: 15.83 kN
- Main Engine Propellants: Nitrous oxide/amine
- Main Engine Propellant Mass: 275 kg
- Main Engine Isp: 266 s (2.61 kN·s/kg)
- Main Engine Burn Time: 1 minute (typical retro burn = 42 seconds)
- Spacecraft delta v: 155 m/s
- Electrical System: Batteries
- Electric System: 0.20 average kW
- Electric System: 24.0 kW h
Auxiliary Retrorocket Module
Auxiliary Retrorocket Module: Voskhod KDU. Also known as: Engine unit- Length: 0.60 m
- Diameter: 0.25 m
- Mass: 143 kg
- Engine Thrust: 118 kN
- Engine Propellants: Solid
- Propellant Mass: 87 kg
- Engine Isp: 224 s (2.20 kN·s/kg)
- Spacecraft delta v: 60 m/s
General data
- Total Mass:5,682 kg
- Total Length: 5.0 m
- Endurance: Supplies for 14 days in orbit
- Launch Vehicle: Voskhod 11A57
- Typical orbit: 163 km x 591 km, 64.8 inclinaton
See also
- Voskhod 2Voskhod 2Voskhod 2 was a Soviet manned space mission in March 1965. Vostok-based Voskhod 3KD spacecraft with two crew members on board, Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov, was equipped with an inflatable airlock...
- Voskhod rocketVoskhod rocketThe Voskhod rocket was a derivative of the Soviet R-7 ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme but later used for launching Zenit reconnaissance satellites. It combined the R-7 with an upper stage that had been originally designed to launch interplanetary probes.There was only one main...
- Voskhod programmeVoskhod programmeThe Voskhod programme was the second Soviet human spaceflight project. Two manned missions were flown using the Voskhod spacecraft and rocket, one in 1964 and one in 1965....
- SpacecraftSpacecraftA spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
- Voskhod Spacecraft Globus IMP navigation instrumentVoskhod Spacecraft "Globus" IMP navigation instrumentthumb|right|200px|IMP Globus instrument Globus IMP instruments were spacecraft navigation instruments used in Soviet and Russian manned spacecraft...