Russia's Cosmonauts Inside the Yuri Gagarin Training Center
Download 3.5 Mb. Pdf ko'rish
|
|
Hydrolaboratory Once the centrifuge and simulator buildings, the administration offices, and the new Profilactorium had been finished, building activities died down again in the training Reorganisation 17
Three Sokol spacesuits, used for training purposes, are lying ready to be donned by cosmonauts for a training exercise The Administration Building, which houses the cosmonaut offices. The wing on the left is the home of the Zeiss Planetarium that is used for training to navigate in space 18 The Cosmonaut Training Centre: birth and growth
The Hydrolaboratory Inside the Hydrolaboratory. On the left is one of the cranes used to lower suited cosmonauts into the water. On the right are two mock-ups of space station modules Reorganisation 19 centre, although Star City itself saw several new large apartment complexes being built. Within the training centre, a small wing was added to the Headquarters building in 1975, which would become the home of the Communications Department. After this, no new facilities would be built until 1980, when a Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, called the Hydrolaboratory, was finally constructed. It was situated at a strategic location near a small lake, which is known in Star City as `Soldier's Lake', because it is a popular place for the conscripts to swim and have barbecue parties. The lake, which is situated just outside the fence surrounding TsPK, is used to dump the water when the Hydrolaboratory's basin is emptied once every year or so. In 1999±2000, an annex was added to the Hydrolaboratory, which is the storage place for the various ISS modules that are not being used during specific training sessions. Until that time, it had been the custom to park the modules that were not needed outside the building, in the open air. The Buran programme Apart from the Hydrolaboratory, the 1980s also saw a lot of other building activities that were instigated by the Buran programme. A large facility, known as KTOK (Kompleksnyy Trenazher Orbitalnogo Korablya, or Simulator Complex for Orbital Ships), was completed in 1988. The north part of the complex consisted of a large hall, in which a fixed-base and a motion-base Buran simulator were placed. In addition, a Buran flight deck simulator was located in the hall and there was still room left for a full-scale mock-up of an orbiter. When it became clear that Buran Old training modules for the Soyuz, Salyut and Mir programmes are stored outside the Hydrolaboratory and left to the elements 20 The Cosmonaut Training Centre: birth and growth
The KTOK building would be cancelled, TsPK management decided to use the hall to house the simulators of the Spektr and Priroda modules for the Mir space station. Later, the Zarya and Zvezda modules for the International Space Station were also placed in the hall. In spite of the fact that the programme was cancelled in the early 1990s, the three Buran simulators were still present in 2004, although by then, the motion-base one had been partially dismantled. The southern part of the complex, which mainly consists of offices, is currently the home of the photo department and of the survival training and recovery departments, currently led by former cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko, who took over this position from Nikolay Grekov, a cosmonaut who had been medically disqualified before having the chance to fly in space. Grekov, in turn, had taken over from Yevgeniy Khludeyev, another unflown cosmonaut. Construction of a second Buran training facility was started, but by the time the main structure had been completed, it had become clear that the future of the Buran programme was very much in doubt. Work on the building was put on hold indefinitely, and eventually it was abandoned. The building had been put up outside the TsPK perimeter and it was foreseen that the fenced-off area would be expanded. In fact, a new gate had already been built at the north side of TsPK, but after construction of the new Buran facility was halted, this new gate was situated way outside TsPK and was also abandoned. The Buran building itself is still prominent, given the fact that, at seven storeys, it is the highest structure of the centre. However, regular visitors have noted that it is slowly deteriorating. It was planned to have a full-scale mock-up of the orbiter Reorganisation 21
The Buran training facility is the highest structure in TsPK. When the programme was cancelled, construction was halted and the building abandoned placed into it, which could be placed in both a horizontal and a vertical position, and the facility was also meant for training cosmonauts in the use of the manipulator arm for Buran. Another restructuring In May 1995, in a new reorganisation, TsPK and the Seryogin Regiment were merged into one new unit; the Yuri A. Gagarin Russian State Scientific Research Centre for Cosmonaut Training. 14 Now, in 2005, the composition of the training centre seems to be fixed. For the immediate future, there appear to be no major building operations planned. The Hydrolaboratory annex has been the most recent addition to TsPK and no additional facilities seem to be needed, so no significant additions to the buildings are foreseen. The current TsPK staff numbers around 1100 people, of which some 700 are military officers. 15 Monuments, memorials and statues in TsPK As was common in the Soviet Union, a number of works of art were put up over the years that the centre was built. However, most of these are never seen by visitors to the centre. The road leading up to the Headquarters and Staff Building has a large number of Soviet-style displays and mosaics; among them a more than life-size one showing Gagarin in his spacesuit and a large obelisk with a portrait of Lenin, the last remaining obvious memento of the Soviet era. Another monument on this access road is a wall that consists of 45 granite slabs. On eighteen of them, all Soviet manned space flights up to and including Soyuz 11 are commemorated. 22 The Cosmonaut Training Centre: birth and growth A mosaic portrait of Yuri Gagarin was erected along the road from the entrance of the training centre to the Headquarters and Staff Building After the deaths of Korolyov and Gagarin, bronze memorial plaques were made, which were put up on both sides of the Headquarters and Staff Building's official entrance. The sculptor of the plaques was Ivan Misko, a Belorussian who is regarded as one of the Soviet Union's most important sculptors of space-related statues and monuments and designer of commemorative medals. In the lobby of the Engineering and Simulator Building stands a life-size bronze statue of Yuri Gagarin greeting visitors with his right hand. The lobby is also decorated with a number of leaded-glass mosaics. Finally, on the road leading up to the Hydrolaboratory, in between the KTOK and Korpus 2, there are two statues. The female and male figures, named `Science' and `Technology' respectively, had initially been placed in the VDNKh (the All- Union Exhibition Centre) in Moscow where the Soviet Union showed off its economic accomplishments, but the sculptor donated them to TsPK and they were relocated to their present places. Reorganisation 23
A remarkable picture of the complete 1976 cosmonaut selection. This was only the second photo ever made of a complete selection and was clearly meant as a publicity photograph. It was not released until after the fall of the Soviet Union Lieutenant-General Mikhail Odintsov, Major-General Nikolay Kuznetsov, TsPK's second commander (1963) TsPK's third commander (1963-1972) 24 The Cosmonaut Training Centre: birth and growth Table 1: Chiefs of the Cosmonaut Training Centre (TsPK) Military Unit Number 26266 Director 1960 Feb 24±1963 Jan 26 Colonel Yevgeniy Anatoliyevich Karpov 1963 Jan 26±1963 Nov 2 Colonel-General Mikhail Pyotrovich Odintsov 1963 Nov 2±1972 Feb 26 Major-General Nikolay Fedorovich Kuznetsov 1972 Feb 26±1987 Jan 3 Lieutenant-General Georgiy Timofeyevich Beregovoy 1987 Jan 3±1991 Sep 12 Lieutenant-General Vladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov 1991 Sep 12±2003 Sep 25 Colonel-General Pyotr Ilyich Klimuk 2003 Sep 25±date Lieutenant-General Vasiliy Vasileyevich Tsibliyev The First Deputy Chief 1960 Mar 30±1961 Mar 6 Colonel Vladimir Vasiliyevich Kovalev 1961 Mar 6±1969 Apr 9 Post not filled 1969 Apr 9±1972 Jun 26 Major-General Georgiy Timofeyevich Beregovoy 1972 Jul±1992 Sep Major-General Andriyan Grigoriyevich Nikolayev 1992 Sep±2000 Apr Major-General Yuri Nikolayevich Glazkov 2000 Apr±2003 Sep 25 Major-General Vasiliy Vasileyevich Tsibliyev 2003 Sep 25±date Major-General Valeriy Grigorievich Korzun The training centre was organised in 1969 into a number of Directorates. These were headed by cosmonauts until recently 1st Directorate was Soyuz, Salyut-Mir and now ISS operations and simulators. Responsible for all Module and Soyuz simulators. 1969 Mar±1970 Jan Colonel Pavel Ivanovich Belyayev 1970 Feb±1972 Dec Colonel Aleksey Arkhipovich Leonov 1972 Dec±1978 Jan Colonel Pavel Romanovich Popovich 1978 Jan±1988 May Major-General Anatoliy Vasilyevich Filipchenko 1988 Jul±1997 Aug Major-General Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dzhanibekov 1997 Nov±date Colonel Y.I. Zhuk 2nd Directorate was Engineering and later, Training and Facilities 1969±unknown Klishov 1976±1979 Major-General Georgiy Stepanovich Shonin 1979±1987 Unknown 1987 Sep±1989 Feb Colonel Yuri Nikolayevich Glazkov 1989 Mar±1992 Oct Colonel Valeriy Ilyich Rozhdestvenskiy 1992 Oct±1997 Nov V.K. Gotvald 1997 Nov±2000 Jul Colonel Gennadiy Mikhailovich Manakov 2000 Jul±unknown B.A. Naumov Sometime after the turn of the century, this department was merged with the 4th Directorate (Medical) 2003±date Colonel Valeriy V. Morgun 3rd Directorate was formed in 1976 to work on Buran, then Training in 1994, and was then given responsibility for survival training, including the management of the Hydrolab. 1976±unknown Unknown 1989±1995 Colonel Yuri Vladimirovich Romanenko 1995±1996 Colonel Vladimir Georgiyevich Titov Reorganisation 25 1996±2003 Colonel Nikolay Sergeyevich Grekov 2003±date Colonel Yuri Pavlovich Gidzenko 4th Directorate was formed in 2004 to oversee Aircraft Operations. (See 70th Air Wing table) Deputy Chief: The Political Department 1960 Mar 19±1963 Feb 14 Colonel Nikolay Fedorovich Nikeryasov 1963 Feb 19±1964 Dec 24 Nazar Martemiyanovich Trofimov 1964 Dec 24±1972 Sep 22 Colonel Ivan Makarovich Kryshkevich 1972 Sep 22±1974 Jun 16 Major-General Boris Vasiliyevich Matosov 1974 Jun 16±1978 Jan 24 Major-General Ivan Ivanovich Vaganov 1978 Jan 24±1991 Sep 12 Major-General Pyotr Ivanovich Klimuk Post abolished after Soviet coup Deputy Chief: The Head of Staff 1963 Mar±1969 Colonel Grigori Gerasimovich Maslennikov 1969 Jun 6±1971 Oct 28 Major-General Nikolay Pavlovich Pashkov 1971 Nov 11±1976 Feb 5 Major-General Yuri Aleksandrovich Vasilevskiy 1976 May 31±1987 Dec 23 Major-General Vladilen Maksimovich Rumyantsev 1987 Dec 23±1994 Dec Major-General Yevgeniy Grigoriyevich Dyatlov 1995 Jun±2000 Major-General Nikolay V. Popov 2000±unknown Aleksandr Nikolayevich Egorov current Major-General V. Shchemyakin Deputy Chief: Flying and Space Training 1963 Dec±1968 Mar 27 Colonel Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin 1968 Jul±1972 Feb Colonel Andriyan Grigoriyevich Nikolayev 1972 Feb±1992 Major-General Aleksey Arkhipovich Leonov Post abolished and responsibilities passed to 1st Deputy Director Deputy Chief: Medical and Biological Training 1960 Mar±1963 Feb Colonel Vladimir Vasiliyevich Kovalev 1963 Feb 8±1969 Mar 21 Grigoriy Fedulovich Khlebnikov 1969 Jul±1971 Jul 2 Major-General Vladimir Alekseyevich Popov 1972 Jul 7±1974 Jan 7 Colonel Konstantin Georgievich Pushchin 1974 Jan±1989 Unknown
1989±1996 Major-General Stanislav Bugrov This Department was redesignated the 4th Directorate Medical
1996±2001 Colonel Valeriy V. Morgun This was then merged with the 2nd Directorate in 2001/2002 Deputy Director: Science, Research and Testing 1969 Mar 21±1974 Colonel Nikolay Dimitriyyevich Samsonov 1974±1976 May Major-General Vladilen Maksimovich Rumyantsev 1976 May±1978 Jan Major-General Yuri Aleksandrovich Afanasyev 1978 Jan 25±1989 Mar Major-General Pavel Romanovich Popovich 1989 Mar 9±1992 Aug Colonel Yuri Nikolayevich Glazkov 1992 Apr±1999 Colonel B.I. Kryuchkov 1999±date Colonel Aleksandr Nikolayevich Egorov 26 The Cosmonaut Training Centre: birth and growth
Commander of 70th Air Wing (Special destination) Based at Chkalovskiy AF Base 1960±1965 Colonel Vladimir Sergeyevich Seryogin 1965±1966 M.I. Lavrov 1966±1967 A.M. Ustenko Deputy Chief: Flying Training 1960 May 6±1961 Feb 8 Colonel Evstafiy Yevseyevich Tselikin 1961±1963 I.A. Azbievich 1963±1969 Unknown
1969 Aug 22±1975 Jan 6 Colonel Gennadiy Aleksandrovich Alekseyev The regiment was formed and attached to the training centre on 24 Feb 1967 and later renamed after Seryogin 1967±1968 Colonel Vladimir Sergeyevich Seryogin 1968±1969 Colonel Gennadiy Aleksandrovich Alekseyev 1969±1978 M.I. Lavrov 1978±1988 A.G. Shchedrov 1988±1994 E.V. Cherednichenko 1995±date V.A. Platonov Following reorganisation it became the 4th Directorate Aircraft Operations in 2003 or 2004. REFERENCES 1 Rex Hall and Bert Vis interview with Nikolay Mikhailovich Kopylov, Star City, August 2004.
2 Nikolay Kamanin, `Skrytyi kosmos: kniga vtoraya 1964±1966', Infortekst, Moscow 1997; entry for 3 January 1964. 3 Ref 2, entry for 20 September 1965 4 Ref 2, entry for 2 September 1966 5 Nikolay Kamanin, `Skrytyi kosmos: kniga vtoraya 1967±1968', Infortekst, Moscow 1999; entry for 4 January 1967 6 Ref 5, entries for 1 and 2 April, and 4 May 1968 7 Ref 5, entries for 11 and 13 May 1968 8 Ref 5, entry for 21 June 1968 9 CC CPSU and Council of Ministers Resolution No. 932±331 of 28 November 1968, signed by Leonid Brezhnev and Aleksey Kosygin 10 Nikolay Kamanin, `Skrytyi kosmos: kniga vtoraya 1969±1978', Infortekst, Moscow 2001; entry for 21 June 1968 11 Hall and Vis interview with Gennadiy Ivanovich Sokolov, TsPK and Star City construction overseer from 1969 onwards, August 2004 12 Aviation Week & Space Technology, 25 June 1973, pp. 18±21 13 Ref 5, entry for 29 July 1968 14 Russian Government Resolution No. 478 of 15 May 1995 15 Interfax-AVN military news agency, Moscow, in English, 4 October 2004 References 27 Simulators At the height of the space race of the 1960s, work was conducted on many manned programmes. As these programmes called for the development and construction of quite a number of simulators, the government issued a decree that formalised a reorganisation of the Flight Research Institute on 21 August 1967. From then on, several subdivisions that worked on simulators were united and started operating under the name SOKB-LII (Specialised Experimental Design Bureau ± Flight Research Institute). Among its responsibilities was the development of cockpit consoles for manned spacecraft, and the construction of simulators for cosmonauts to train in. Its first Chief Designer was Sergey Grigoryevich Darevskiy, who had been working on spacecraft simulators from the very beginning of the manned programme. In 1971, SOKB-LII separated from LII itself to become an independent organisation, while still remaining the prime contractor for the development of spacecraft simulators. In 1983, SOKB-LII merged with another branch of LII and was renamed NII-AO (Flight Research Institute ± Aviation Equipment). Finally, in 1997, a new design bureau called SOKB-KT (Specialised Experimental Design Bureau ± Space Technology) was set up within NII-AO. This bureau is described as being the successor to SOKB-LII and is responsible for the development of control panels for manned spacecraft and simulators. THE FIRST SIMULATORS In 1960, a prototype of what would later become the first spacecraft simulator was developed and built in the Ministry of Aviation Industry's Flight Research Institute (LII) in the city of Zhukovskiy, southeast of Moscow. A team of engineers led by Darevskiy developed and built a stand that was used to perfect the design and layout of the Vostok cockpit control panel. Shortly after it had been constructed, Kamanin had this stand incorporated into a full-size Vostok mock-up and upon its completion in the autumn of 1960, it was dubbed simulator TDK-1 1 . Although it served its purpose well, only Yuri Gagarin and German Titov ever trained on it in Zhukovskiy. By then, Kamanin had ordered an improved simulator to be built. This second one, called TDK-2, was designed by Darevskiy's team together with engineers from the Cosmonaut Training Centre, and built by the same laboratory in LII as TDK-1. After it had been completed, it was placed in the new centre. The cosmonauts who flew the later Vostok missions, and their back-ups, all trained on this simulator, which represented a real Descent Module. It provided the cosmonauts who trained on it with visual information about flight modes, different systems, assemblies and onboard equipment operation. Furthermore, the external visual environment was simulated with the help of an optical visor called `Vzor'. Optical imitation of the visual environment helped the cosmonauts to see the reaction of the vehicle to the controls, which created the illusion of real space flight. 2 One of the first instructors to work with the TDK simulators was Valentin Varlamov, who had been one of the cosmonauts selected with Yuri Gagarin. In March 1961 however, Varlamov had been permanently grounded and removed from the cosmonaut team after sustaining a serious back injury during an off-duty accident. Reportedly, a third Vostok simulator, designated TDK-3KA, was constructed. The timeframe for its use was given as 1963±1964, 3 which suggests that it was never actually used for cosmonaut training because shortly after the mission that was flown by Valentina Tereshkova in June 1963, it was decided to end the Vostok programme. The difficult 1960s Experience gained in actual space flight (as well as in training) during the Vostok programme was used to improve the simulators that were being developed for the Voskhod programme. The first all-round simulator for the space programme that was developed was the TDK-3KV, which was used to train Vladimir Komarov, Konstantin Feoktistov and Boris Yegorov for their mission on Voskhod 1. With the MN-14 computer that was an integral part of the TDK-3KV, it had become possible to simulate orbital manoeuvring and manual entry dynamics. The visual environ- ment imitator, the most complex part of the simulator, was designed by TsKB Geofizika and `Arsenal', both defence industry enterprises. 2 A second new simulator, TDK-3KD, was built for training Pavel Belyayev and Aleksey Leonov, the crew of Voskhod 2 that was to perform the first extra-vehicular activity (EVA). Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion over the Voskhod simulators. Although the official histories of the Cosmonaut Training Centre clearly state that both simulators were built in 1964 and 1965 respectively and were used for the training of the Voskhod 1 and Voskhod 2 crews, Kamanin's diaries suggest that they were not. On 26 June 1965, Kamanin wrote that `the Voskhod simulator didn't even exist on paper yet.' 4 The following August however, in another entry, he mentioned that a decision had been taken that ordered LII to have the TDK-3KV simulator ready by October of 1965, and the next one, TDK-3KD, in the first quarter of 1966. 5 It is
unknown if this time schedule was met, as the first mention that the TDK-3KV was actually available is from the entry of 10 January 1966. These entries would suggest that the simulators Kamanin mentions are not the same ones as those used for training the Voskhod 1 and Voskhod 2 crews, since Voskhod 1 flew in October 1964 and Voskhod 2 in March of 1965. 30 Simulators Yuri Gagarin (left) and Vladimir Komarov discuss the upcoming Soyuz 1 and 2 docking mission in the Soyuz simulator In January 1966, a series of follow-on missions was still scheduled in the Voskhod programme. Voskhod 3 was to be a long-duration flight, with the creation of artificial gravity as one of the objectives; Voskhod 4 was to be flown by two female Download 3.5 Mb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: 
|