Context:- India’s maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is set to utilize the Russian Sokol KV2 Intra-Vehicular Activity (IVA) suit. This selection highlights the critical, non-negotiable role of pressurised suits in ensuring crew survival during the high-risk phases of any human spaceflight mission.
What Makes Space Lethal?
The primary threat of space is the vacuum the complete absence of atmospheric pressure. On Earth, the atmosphere provides stable pressure that our bodies are balanced against. In a vacuum, this balance is lost, leading to catastrophic and rapid effects:
- Ebullism: The boiling of bodily fluids (like saliva and blood plasma) at low pressure, as the boiling point drops.
- Decompression: The rapid and lethal expansion of gases within the lungs and body tissues.
- Hypoxia: A critical lack of oxygen, leading to loss of consciousness within seconds.
The Solution: What Are the Types of Space Suits?
Astronauts rely on two distinct types of suits to function as personal life-support systems.:
1. Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Suits:
- Purpose: Used for spacewalks and work outside the spacecraft.
- Function: Essentially a personal spacecraft, with 12-14 layers providing protection from vacuum, extreme temperatures (-150°C to +120°C), radiation, and micrometeoroids.
- Weight: Substantial, weighing 100-130 kg.
2.Intra-Vehicular Activity (IVA) Suits:
- Purpose: Worn inside the spacecraft during critical, dynamic phases (launch, ascent, and re-entry).
- Function: Acts as an emergency backup. It is not designed for spacewalks but to protect the crew from a sudden loss of cabin pressure or a fire.
- Weight: Significantly lighter, at 8-10 kg.
The Soyuz 11 Tragedy (1971):-
The 1971 Soyuz 11 tragedy, where fatal re-entry depressurization killed the unprotected crew, established a critical safety protocol. This disaster made wearing IVA suits a non-negotiable global mandate for all subsequent launch and landing phases.
Gaganyaan’s Space Safety: The Sokol KV2 Suit
For Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission, astronauts will use the Russian Sokol KV2 IVA suit, made by Zvezda.
- Structure:-
- Inner layer: rubberised polycaprolactam (airtight bladder).
- Outer layer: nylon canvas (structural support & protection).
- Proven Record: Used in over 128 Soyuz missions.
- Significance: Symbolises India’s collaboration with Russia while building indigenous capabilities in human spaceflight safety.
