Lot 4047* - A211 Out of This World - mardi, 03. décembre 2024, 17h00
ORLAN-M SPACE SUIT
Made by NPP Zvezda
1990s
Original, life-sized space suit
170 × 80 × 60 cm (measurements not including stand)
1990s
Original, life-sized space suit
170 × 80 × 60 cm (measurements not including stand)
Provenance:
- Zvezda
- Spanish private collection
- US private collection
- German private collection
Mir, which means ‘peace’ or ‘world’, was a Soviet space station that operated in low-Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001. It was the first modular space station ever to exist and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996. With a greater mass than any previous spacecraft, it was the largest artificial satellite in orbit at the time.
Mir was the second-most elaborate space station to date. Its purpose was to improve understanding of the difficulties faced in establishing a permanent presence in space. In total, 105 cosmonauts and 82 astronauts of 11 nationalities flew on Mir between 1988 and 1999. The experience derived from the extended stays of international crews on MIR was used to prepare for the International Space Station. Elements of the ISS began to be constructed throughout the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe from the late 1980s.
The ORLAN-M spacesuit, a marvel of engineering designed for extravehicular activities (EVAs), stands as a testament to human ingenuity and international collaboration in space exploration. Originally developed by the Soviet Union and later adopted for use aboard both the Mir space station and the International Space Station (ISS), the ORLAN-M has enabled astronauts and cosmonauts to step beyond the confines of the spacecraft, maintaining safety in the hostile environment of space.
The first spacewalk using an Orlan suit took place in 1977, on the Salyut 6. For the EVAs on Mir, they were replaced by the Orlan-DMA and Orlan-M suits. The M model continued to be in use on Mir from 1997 until the end of the station's operational life, and is now used on the International Space Station. They are designed and built by NPP Zvezda and have been also used by American, European, Canadian and Chinese astronauts.
Entry is gained from the rear. The back unhinges and the cosmonaut climbs in, closes the back with a surprisingly simplistic but very efficient hinge and then inserts head, arms, and legs into the different parts of the suit.
The space suits have an aluminium upper torso, a urethane-coated nylon pressure bladder, ortho fabric and aluminised mylar skin, and a polycarbonate helmet. They require the wearing of a liquid-cooling and ventilation undergarment. The flexible cooling tubes are sewn into the textile of undergarment, which is made to fit each cosmonaut and astronaut individually. The tubes are then connected to the water tank in the back of the suit. This allows them to be very compact, as there are no tubes or cords outside the suit.
The suit’s evolution, from its deployment on Mir to its continued use on the ISS, underscores the remarkable cooperation between nations once divided by political boundaries, now united in their pursuit of scientific progress. In this context, the Orlan-M space suit is more than just advanced technology; it is a symbol of hope, representing the shared human dream of peaceful exploration and discovery, transcending national borders and fostering collaboration across cultures in the infinite expanse of space.
- Zvezda
- Spanish private collection
- US private collection
- German private collection
Mir, which means ‘peace’ or ‘world’, was a Soviet space station that operated in low-Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001. It was the first modular space station ever to exist and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996. With a greater mass than any previous spacecraft, it was the largest artificial satellite in orbit at the time.
Mir was the second-most elaborate space station to date. Its purpose was to improve understanding of the difficulties faced in establishing a permanent presence in space. In total, 105 cosmonauts and 82 astronauts of 11 nationalities flew on Mir between 1988 and 1999. The experience derived from the extended stays of international crews on MIR was used to prepare for the International Space Station. Elements of the ISS began to be constructed throughout the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe from the late 1980s.
The ORLAN-M spacesuit, a marvel of engineering designed for extravehicular activities (EVAs), stands as a testament to human ingenuity and international collaboration in space exploration. Originally developed by the Soviet Union and later adopted for use aboard both the Mir space station and the International Space Station (ISS), the ORLAN-M has enabled astronauts and cosmonauts to step beyond the confines of the spacecraft, maintaining safety in the hostile environment of space.
The first spacewalk using an Orlan suit took place in 1977, on the Salyut 6. For the EVAs on Mir, they were replaced by the Orlan-DMA and Orlan-M suits. The M model continued to be in use on Mir from 1997 until the end of the station's operational life, and is now used on the International Space Station. They are designed and built by NPP Zvezda and have been also used by American, European, Canadian and Chinese astronauts.
Entry is gained from the rear. The back unhinges and the cosmonaut climbs in, closes the back with a surprisingly simplistic but very efficient hinge and then inserts head, arms, and legs into the different parts of the suit.
The space suits have an aluminium upper torso, a urethane-coated nylon pressure bladder, ortho fabric and aluminised mylar skin, and a polycarbonate helmet. They require the wearing of a liquid-cooling and ventilation undergarment. The flexible cooling tubes are sewn into the textile of undergarment, which is made to fit each cosmonaut and astronaut individually. The tubes are then connected to the water tank in the back of the suit. This allows them to be very compact, as there are no tubes or cords outside the suit.
The suit’s evolution, from its deployment on Mir to its continued use on the ISS, underscores the remarkable cooperation between nations once divided by political boundaries, now united in their pursuit of scientific progress. In this context, the Orlan-M space suit is more than just advanced technology; it is a symbol of hope, representing the shared human dream of peaceful exploration and discovery, transcending national borders and fostering collaboration across cultures in the infinite expanse of space.
Astronaut Demonstrates How A Space Suit Works
CHF 80 000 / 120 000 | (€ 82 470 / 123 710)