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Vice Blog

RUSSIAN COSMONAUT FASHION

Photo by Patrice Thomas

Thirty years ago this week, cosmonauts Leonid Popov and Valery Ryumin were preparing to return to earth after a record-setting 185 days floating around in space aboard the Salyut 6 station. It wasn't just the end of a long flight, but the end of an era in Russian space suit fashion – with the Sokol-K spacesuit soon to be replaced by the current Sokol-KV2 design.

First launched in September 1973, the Sokol-K was designed to protect its occupant from the dangers of sudden cabin depressurisation. Such an incident had cost the lives of three cosmonauts returning to earth in 1971 when a faulty valve accidently blew 100 miles up – resulting in the first and so far only deaths actually in outer space. After that, the Russian space agency decided to protect its cosmonauts by commissioning a bespoke new garment for the most dangerous parts of a Soyuz mission: Launch, docking and re-entry.

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The job went to the awkwardly titled group, "Research & Development Production Enterprise Zvezda." Experts in flight safety (including a rare ejection seat for helicopters), the company rejected existing designs and instead looked to flight suits developed for fighter pilots. Taking the existing Sokol aviation suit, Zvezda stripped out the unnecessary detailing and added a life support system to create the Sokol-K Rescue Spacesuit, with "K" standing for "Kosmos."

Image via Buran Energia / Vassili Petrovitch

Each suit weighed 22 lbs., and was tailored to fit an individual cosmonaut. To get in, spacefarers would first step in then move on to the arms and finally helmet. Gloves and a visor completed the look, with straps on the arms, chest and legs allowing extra adjustments once fitted. A good fit was essential, so each crew spent two hours sitting in launch position to ensure that each piece of the ensemble was perfect. Finally, prior to launch, the suit was accessorized with minimal grey Jil Sander-esque boots to protect from dirt. And no, that's not an amazingly architectural man bag, but a chunky gray heat exchange unit to keep the wearer cool. Thus protected, chilled, and looking sharp, cosmonauts could get on with the task of taking Communism to the stars, and beyond.

CHRIS HATHERILL is co-director of super/collider.