and SPK/YMK Manned Manuevering Unit

This section has been added as a follow-up to the Soviet Union Krechet suit page, because the Orlan suit owes so much of it's design to the Krechet.  The Orlan is being used to this day on board the International Space Station.


Above: Orlan M on EVA on Mir.  Note that the "CCCP" Soviet Union flag (left shoulder) seen on the Orlan below (and top right on this page) has been replaced by the flag of the Russian Federation. Also note the Mir program patch on the right shoulder
All photos below this point are thumbnails.  Click on them for large image.
Mr. Michael Koivisto, 
a great contributor 
to My Little Space 
Museum,
stands next to an Orlan suit display.
The helmet. 
Note the twin 
mikes
in the comm 
carrier.
Primary controls
in 
Cyrillic text
Primary controls 
in 
Cyrillic text		 Pressure 
table 
written on 
right suit 
glove
3/4 view Left side
view		 Engineer 
testing fit 
of Orlan suit		 same as at left
Above: First 6 photos courtesy Mr. Michael Koivisto.
Backpack/rear 
hatch details. 
Compare to this 
photo of 
Krechet 
suit		 Replacable 
items in
backpack
Above: Backpack interior details
Early Orlan inboard 
during EVA prep		 Orlan M 
on EVA
Above: In-flight photos


Above: 5 photos of the Orlan suit on display with the Eurodisney LK Lunar Landing Vehicle.  Note that the exterior thermal layer is not applied, showing the underlying details of the suit.
Zvezda SPK/YMK Manned Manuevering Unit

The SPK Manned Manuevering Unit was flown tethered twice outside the Mir space station.
Left attached to the Mir, it was destroyed when that vehicle reentered earth's atmosphere.

Above: Left, center, and right views of Orlan-SPK EVA configuration.
Note similarity to US MMU.  Right glove of suit has been removed and
right arm of SPK is folded down.  Small white pack at base of display
was worn at waist while on EVA.  It is probably a tether reel pack.
Right photo is of rear of SPK, showing flaps opened to reveal main prop tanks.

Above Left: Closeup from photo above, left center.  Right hand controller, stowed
Center: Left hand controller, deployed
Right: Closeup from center photo of left hand controller

Nice photo of the Orlan-SPK on EVA


Links:
Mark Wade's Encyclopedia Astronautica - Orlan suit
Mark Wade's Encyclopedia Astronautica - SPK
Soviet and Russian Space Suits
Alexander Serebrov's Homepage - one of two men who flew the SPK
 

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