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TASS did not say a word about what had to endure cosmonaut Boris Volynova
In the Soviet movie “Return from orbit” is a curious episode. In a train compartment – two men. Radio report on the launch of the spacecraft.
– Well, again! exclaims the first man. – Think of it, flew for a week, and already heroes! Came back, and all of them, and awards, and photographs in the Newspapers!
– And if not back? – quietly asks the second…
Jewelry work!
“Soyuz-4” with commander Vladimir Shatalov (call sign – “Amur”) was launched on the morning of 14 January 1969. Through the day the company he was “Soyuz-5” with commander Boris Volynov, flight engineer Alexei Yeliseyev and research engineer Yevgeny Gromovym (call sign – “Baikal”).
Four in space at the same time! But not for the record climbed to orbit astronauts. For the first time in the world they were supposed to dock two manned object. Thanks to experts from the Earth ships went to the desired orbit. When between “Unions” remained half a mile, switched to manual control. Now everything depended on the astronauts. “Unions” has docked at nearly zero relative speed.
“Postolaty”
A docking station with an internal transition at that time did not exist. So to travel from ship to ship had through the open space. “Coming out” had two: Yeliseyev and Khrunov. Volynov helped the comrades put on their spacesuits, tested, tight-fitting hats, and moved to another compartment and batten down the hatch.
Without incident, however, has not been. First, the move was much harder than in training, and “postolaty” (the word K. E. Tsiolkovsky) behind schedule. Although “go” had a little more than ten meters. Holding on to the handrails, two astronauts moved into Soyuz-4″, where they waited for Vladimir Shatalov.
Closing the hatch behind him, Alexey Eliseev missed from the hands of the camera, and it rotated, floated into the vast expanse of the Universe. Well, that “coming out” was fixed another stationary camera ships, or documentary evidence of output would be enough.
Khrunov and Yeliseyev brought Shatalov fresh press with photos and reports about his start. After four and a half hours the ships unlocked.
On the morning of 17 January, Soyuz-4″ went to the landing and landed in Kazakhstan, 40 km North-West of Karaganda.
And on 18 January it was the turn of the Soyuz-5″, where Boris Volynov.
Boosters worked the necessary time for braking. Dropping the speed, the ship rushed to the Ground.
This is where it all started…
Our beautiful “Union”
The layout of the ship “Union” was simple, as all ingenious. Sphere orbital module (BO) at a docking station, in mid – descent module (DM) in the form of car lights, and then – cylinder instrument-propulsion compartment (PAO) with solar panels, source of energy for the entire ship. BO and CA are inhabited, PAO – no. Reaching the upper limits of the atmosphere, the spacecraft is divided into bays, and landing only CA. Everything else burns down.
If the ship was completely covered with thermal protection, a booster would not be able to lift it into space due to the large mass. The designers lightened the weight of the hull. And even on SA protective coating applied unevenly. The unit is built on the principle of “roly-poly”: flying broad end first, at a slight angle. Due to this angular slide creates a small lifting force that reduces an overload for the astronaut. On the bottom – maximum thickness of the ablative coating. It further reduced, and on the hatch – very minor.
And here, the “Soyuz-5” is not separated instrument-aggregate compartment – disaster! Space object raced down the vulnerable edge – Luc! But on the Ground it was impossible openly to report an accident.
– I – “Baikal”! The object is rotated, moved to a ballistic descent – gave Boris Volynov. – In the left window you can see the antenna on the solar battery.
Emergency situation
Volynov knew that to survive in such a situation it is not meant to be. Even after braking, the vehicle speed is huge. He bursts in near-earth space, and as we approach the moment of landing is enhanced by bombardment of its surface by the air molecules. For portholes first flashed sparks of fire arising from the friction, then the orange stripe and then the hull of a ship beginning to crackle in flames.
Communication with Earth was gone: when entering the dense layers of the atmosphere, the antenna was burned in a plasma cloud. After this, when there will be a few kilometers and will develop a parachute that will unfold “slot” antenna. Only now if it comes to a parachute?
Prepare for the inevitable!
There was no panic. The astronaut thought for what can be done. He looked around the “living space”: the volume – as in the cabin of the car. On the sides the empty chairs of the friends who has already returned to Earth. A couple of Windows Yes remote control with indicators and switches. But the button of “Forced ejection PAO” on the remote control was missing. Absent the astronaut and the spacesuit, because the three in this “clothing” it would not fit in the “Union” sample 1969.
Well, well. So will have to suffer less…
No, he is not thinking about death. Just felt like time was compressed. To live remained, apparently, no more than five minutes. It conducted a report, telling what he sees and feels, hoping that the onboard autoregistrator (the analogue of a “black box” on planes) will retain his voice, and experts on the Ground will understand why this happened. To never, nowhere and with no one…
Fire – in assistance
Then it became impossible to speak -overload push in a chair, and retaining straps painfully dug into the body. Volynov remained silent. Then labour took the log, threw up the leaves, where there were records about the dock, carefully folded and tucked them deep into the log, closer to the binding. Tied the journal with a bandage, not to be disclosed page. Put the documentation for themselves. Boris knew that even with severe fire burn some books a little at the edges, but what’s inside is unharmed.
Became very hot. The cabin was filled with acrid stench. He understood – it smokes the sealing rubber on the hatch. So now soon. Breathing became harder…
And suddenly – a strong jerk upwards. Separated instrument-aggregate compartment! The fire that greedily licking machine got to the squibs, and those worked! The descent compartment was immediately flipped over by 180 degrees and in the correct position.
Sweat poured in streams: then cold, then warm…
“Carousel”
Saved? Oh I see! Okay – plating, and survive if the hatch won’t open? And the parachute will open? Anyway will soon find out.
Again, leap up, but weaker exhaust small parachute went and pulled the main. F-u-u, you can catch your breath.
Fate continued to experience Volynov. The lander is significantly rotated along the longitudinal axis. But scared was not even that. Together with the compartment rotated parachute: astronaut distinctly heard, as they ground their metal strands. Forward-backward, left-right… And following them obediently moved the parachute lines, then peripetias and folding the cloth, unfolding it again. Rotated as the carousel. Will decrease if the speed to normal?
“My head is gray?”
From monstrous blow about the earth the lander bounced. Well that Kazakh steppe covered deep soft snow. Volynov felt broken teeth. But I had to get out.
He opened the hatch and into the compartment poured scalding frosty air of the Earth, instantly vastutuse a tiny room. Breathing has become easy. The astronaut was instantly chilled to the bone.
The rescuers was not, it here did not expect. In this descent the device is deviated in the direction for tens of kilometers. That means we need to wait and, in the first place – to keep warm. How? Around – not a tree or Bush, nothing but desert, snow, sky… and a parachute. Falling in the snow, Boris reached white-orange cloth, lay on him and began to wrap in fabric. Layer by layer, deeper and deeper, warmer and warmer.
Soon over the landing site circled the aircraft “Il-14”. The troops carried it to the side, and the soldiers reached the landing apparatus on foot.
– My head is gray? – the first thing he asked the astronaut.
– No – replied…
…TASS did not say a word about what had to endure cosmonaut Boris Volynova.
