SPK Manned Manoeuvring Unit
Credit: Andy Salmon
Test of SPK Manned Manoeuvring Unit
Credit: RKK Energia
Russian space mobility device, tested 1990. The Soviet Union developed a manned maneuvering unit and flew it from Mir in 1990.
The UMK weighed 218 kg. In case of a malfunction, it remained connected by a tether attached to a winch on an EVA mast installed near the Kvant-2 exit hatch of Mir. The UMK was used on only two EVA's, at distances of up to 45 m from the station. Unlike the shuttle MMU, it was only flown tethered to the station. Like the shuttle MMU, it was retired after a few tests.
Gross mass: 218 kg (480 lb).
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Space Suits To explore and work in space, human beings must take their environment with them because there is no atmospheric pressure and no oxygen to sustain life. Inside the spacecraft, the atmosphere can be controlled so that special clothing is not needed. But in order to work outside the spacecraft, humans need the protection of a spacesuit. More...
Associated Manufacturers and Agencies
Zvezda Russian manufacturer of spacecraft. Zvezda Design Bureau, Russia. More...
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