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Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov train in TBK-50 compression chamber

While training in TBK-50 compression chamber, the cosmonauts learn to evaluate spacesuit fitness, thermoregulation system work under various physical loads and psychologically adapt to the upcoming spacewalks. The trainings are also an opportunity to work with Orlan spacesuit autonomous life support system in the conditions of underpressure and estimate physiological and hygienic conditions inside the standard spacesuit.

TBK-50 compression chamber is capable of creating deep vacuum equaling the conditions at an altitude of 70,000 meters. These conditions enable the work of thermoregulating system inside the spacesuit.

During the training, the ISS-64 crewmembers Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov performed two exercises. The first one was under normal pressure and included final inspection of the spacesuit, donning and fitting it. The second exercise went after lowering the pressure to 0.04-0.02 mmHg and included separate operations of airlocking sequence, switching on and off the thermoregulation system, controlling it during physical loads.

‘The physical loads included stepping up the stairs and descending with variable speed. The spacesuit is really heavy, about 120 kg and despite using weight relief mechanisms, the training requires a lot of physical effort,’ says Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center instructor Ekaterina Kireeva.

The cosmonauts need to learn to correctly control the temperature inside the spacesuit depending on the physical loads. Orlan-MKS spacesuit has an automatic thermoregulation system; however in case of failure the operator should be ready to manually control the temperature.

During the training, Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov conducted separate operations of the direct and reverse airlocking sequence in accordance with the onboard documentation. Cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Andrey Fedyaev, Dmitry Petelin and Sergey Korsakov also passed the tests in the compression chamber TBK-50.

The compression chamber complex TBK-50 is located at the NPP Zvezda testing base in Tomilino, Moscow Region. TBK-50 training sessions are an obligatory stage in the cosmonaut training in the discipline ‘Spacesuit for spacewalk and a complex of airlock equipment.’ Training in the compression chamber takes place under the guidance of specialists from NPP "Zvezda" and Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The GCTC instructor is responsible for the methodological support of the training. The technical manager from NPP Zvezda ensures the preparation of the compression chamber complex and spacesuits for training, as well as the creation of the necessary conditions for work and the safety of the training participants. The experiment is conducted by a physiologist at NPP Zvezda.