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Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

Tech 2024-08-16 17:13:58 Source: Network

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Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut PistolSince the modern age, the space program has become one of the most important areas for every country, and China's space technology is developing rapidly. The Soviet Union, as the first country to reach space, left behind a lot of relevant experiences for other countries to learn from

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

Since the modern age, the space program has become one of the most important areas for every country, and China's space technology is developing rapidly. The Soviet Union, as the first country to reach space, left behind a lot of relevant experiences for other countries to learn from. For example, Chinese astronauts are equipped with a specially designed pistol when they go into space. However, this gun is not meant to defend against aliens, but originates from a thrilling space mission in the Soviet Union...

The Cold War Between the US and the USSR: Entering Space

In the 1960s, the Cold War between the US and the USSR was in full swing. In order to showcase its advanced aerospace technology, the Soviet Union sent the pilot Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, achieving the first human spaceflight. The Soviet Union was therefore proud, while the United States was embarrassed. Since Gagarin only entered space and did not walk in space, the two countries then began a competition to see who could be the first to complete a spacewalk.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

To make up for its loss, the United States invested heavily in its human spaceflight program. Data shows that the US increased the budget of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from $500 million in 1960 to $5.2 billion in 1965. The number of NASA employees also increased from 36,500 to 376,000. At the same time, the US incorporated 200 universities nationwide into the research and development work of this project. In the face of such massive investment, some voices in US society questioned the program, and the Soviet Union also criticized and mocked it.

The Soviet Union formulated two plans: one was to achieve a spacewalk, and the other was to develop a manned spacecraft to carry out a lunar landing. Compared with the United States, the Soviet Union had a bigger ambition in its space program, but this also led to the dispersion of its domestic resources and the slow progress of its manned spacecraft program. By 1965, the United States' space program had achieved a milestone victory, with its manned spacecraft making its first flight into space, marking a seemingly early lead over the Soviet Union in the space race.

The Soviet Union's Thrilling "Spacewalk"

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

However, the Soviet Union did not give up. In 1965, the Soviet Union also launched a spacecraft test, but the spacecraft exploded before reaching its intended orbit. To achieve a spacewalk before the United States, the Soviet Union submitted a proposal to send astronauts into space ahead of schedule and received approval.

The mission was entrusted to Pavel Belyayev and Alexei Leonov, the former being the commander, responsible for receiving and transmitting instructions, while the latter was the spacecraft pilot and the first person to step out of the hatch.

Due to the unsatisfactory results of previous tests, the Soviet aviation authorities had doubts about the condition of the spacecraft after entering space. Moreover, there was no precedent for spacewalk in human history. Many experts feared that the astronauts would be unable to withstand the pressure of space once they left the cabin, leading to heart or brain damage. To ensure the safety of the astronauts, Soviet experts designed a plan to teach the commander how to pull Leonov back to the spacecraft.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

On March 18, 1965, Leonov and Belyayev boarded the spacecraft. Before leaving, the spacecraft designers told them: "Once in space, you're on your own, don't lose your lives due to recklessness."

However, problems still arose. After the spacecraft took off, it deviated from its orbit due to an unknown technical malfunction. Fortunately, this did not affect the spacecraft's entry into space. Next, Leonov prepared to step out of the hatch as planned.

To prevent accidents, the commander tied a "rope" to Leonov, connected to the cabin. However, this "rope" was actually a telephone line that kept him in contact with the cabin, meaning Leonov's life depended on this thin line.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

Leonov opened the hatch and poked his head out of the airlock to observe. Initially, everything was normal, and he saw the vastness of space. However, a sudden change occurred: his spacesuit suddenly inflated.

Leonov's mind went blank, and his body was pushed out of the cabin like a cork, tumbling uncontrollably in space.

Soviet media reported that Leonov did some somersaults outside the cabin after stepping out. But in reality, he was spinning under the influence of atmospheric pressure, with the rope winding around him, stopping him at the hatch.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

Leonov abandoned his original plan and could not walk in space. However, his inflated spacesuit prevented him from returning to the cabin. He was trapped, helpless and calling out: "I can't get back in!"

The commander inside the cabin and the staff on Earth heard his cries but could not offer any help. Leonov had to save himself. He was overly nervous, his adrenaline surged, and he broke into a cold sweat. The sweat blurred his visor, obscuring his view of the hatch.

With his professional training, he found the inflation valve on his spacesuit. As he released the air, he felt pain from the intense pressure changes. But for his survival, he endured it. As his spacesuit gradually shrunk, Leonov slowly inched towards the cabin.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

Twelve minutes later, he successfully returned to the spacecraft and closed the hatch.

A Thrilling Journey Home with Unexpected Incidents

After a brief rest, Leonov and the commander decided to return to Earth. However, another malfunction occurred while maneuvering the spacecraft to turn around: the oxygen concentration inside the cabin inexplicably increased, making the cabin extremely hot. If a spark occurred, it would ignite the spacecraft.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

They tried various operations, but to no avail. Just when they thought they could not return to Earth, a miracle happened: the oxygen concentration inside the cabin returned to normal.

They piloted the spacecraft on its return journey, only to encounter yet another malfunction: the spacecraft's automatic positioning system failed. For a safe landing, they had to manually control the spacecraft, which rolled wildly. Ultimately, they landed in the depths of the Siberian wilderness, 965 kilometers away from their intended landing site.

They opened the hatch, and a white landscape of snow greeted their eyes, with the sound of howling wind in their ears. They climbed out of the cabin and prepared to walk out of the forest to seek help.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

While walking on the snow, Leonov vaguely heard the howling of wolves and the roar of bears. He stopped the commander immediately and looked around. After failing to find signs of wolves or bears, he urged the commander to speed up and leave this uninhabited forest.

The Soviet aviation authorities were aware of the accident and dispatched helicopters to search for the two astronauts all over the world. The next day, a helicopter spotted them walking in the forest. However, due to the obstruction of trees, the helicopter could not land, so the rescuers could only let them walk to an open area and then pick them up.

After 26 hours of forced landing on Earth, they were finally rescued and returned safely.

Space "Self-Defense": The Story Behind the Astronaut Pistol

The Birth of the Astronaut Pistol

After this thrilling experience, in 1979, while visiting an arms factory, Leonov suggested to the factory manager that an anti-personnel pistol be designed for astronauts so that they could defend themselves against wild animals if they landed in Siberia.

The Soviet Union prioritized the development of the astronaut pistol. In 1982, the pistol was successfully developed and placed in the astronauts' portable emergency kit. Since then, every Soviet astronaut who entered space was equipped with this pistol.

NASA's "Space Ban on Weapons" Principle

Unlike the Soviet Union, NASA did not include a pistol in the survival kit. Although the United States is a country where guns are legal, NASA adhered to the "space ban on weapons" principle, only providing astronauts with a survival knife in their first aid kit.

This knife was different from ordinary military tools, specially designed for astronaut self-defense, with two rows of sharp serrations on the back of the blade and a hard blade that could withstand severe impact. The US believes that a knife is more useful if a spacecraft lands in the Amazon rainforest or the African savannah.

Chinese Astronauts' "Self-Defense Equipment"

Besides the United States and the Soviet Union, Chinese astronauts are also equipped with a tool kit containing a small automatic pistol when they perform space missions. In 2021, the Shenzhou-13 manned spacecraft carried three astronauts, all equipped with pistols.

This shows that the astronaut pistol is not meant for fighting aliens but for self-defense in emergencies.

Conclusion

The thrilling experience of Soviet astronaut Alexei Leonov during his spacewalk mission led the Soviet Union to equip astronauts with pistols for emergencies. While NASA adheres to the "space ban on weapons" principle, it also provides astronauts with dedicated survival knives.

Chinese astronauts are also equipped with pistols, not to defend against aliens but to defend themselves in case of accidents. Whether it's a pistol or a survival knife, it's all about ensuring the safety of astronauts, reflecting the importance and guarantee that space agencies worldwide place on astronaut safety.

This thrilling space mission has provided valuable experience for future astronauts: in space, any accident can happen, and it's essential to remain vigilant and prepared to

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