eBay

maxuta_id="032335"

BLOCK #3 OF TANKS FOR EARLY SPACECRAFT SOYUZ WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM KOLOS-4B, 1973!

It's offered to your attention the block #3 of two aluminum tanks for water supply system Kolos-4B designed for use onboard the early Soviet spacecraft 7K-T, more known as the early version of spacecraft Soyuz for the space station. The block includes two independent water containers. They are marked as "tank 5" and "tank 6". Judging by the markings, this unit was made in 1973.

Design features. To supply the crew with water, the aluminum tanks are pressurized with the air and thus squeeze water out of the elastic rubber containers installed inside each tank. This allows to use the system during overloads or in weightlessness condition. The water is specially prepared by preserving with silver ions, with a concentration of 0.2 mg/l.

Historical reference. Finishing the Moon Race, the USSR shifted its focus in human space flight to the Earth-orbiting stations. Soyuz became a "space ferry", capable of delivering a crew of three to the space stations. This modification was assigned as 7K-T. The first such vehicle, designated Soyuz-10, flew in 1971. However the same year, mission of Soyuz-11 ended in a disaster, when its three cosmonauts died as a result of a decompression of their reentry capsule on the way home. Nevertheless, over 20 such spacecraft successfully delivered Soviet and international crews to the space stations of Salyut series until 1981, when the last 7K-T spacecraft Soyuz-40 successfully accomplished its mission to Salyut-6.

Provenance. This item has been taken from garage of the former participant of the program. He worked at Baikonur launch pad in 1960-1980-s and collected many interesting devices as space memorabilia but his relatives are not aware about the purpose of certain devices he collected.

Condition - very good for its age of over 50 years! Some minor scratches, paint dents and dirt spots are available. No pressure test performed. The wires pass through the bolt heads on the lids of each tank, another wires pass through the water filler neck and air pressure plug of each tank. The ends of each wire are twisted and sealed.

Size: about 19x23x10" (48x59x24 cm).

Made in the USSR.