A new video surveillance system for Russian cosmonauts

The company "RosElectronics", the largest Russian producer of radio electronic components, has developed an autonomous video surveillance system that will help monitor the actions of astronauts while working in open space. The development was carried out, taking into account the technical features of the Orlan-MKS spacesuit, which Russian cosmonauts are now using.

The new video surveillance system can work autonomously up to eight hours, and the camera, which is a monoblock, is placed on the helmet and forms a high-definition color image, after which the signal is coded and transmitted over the radio to the service modules of the Russian segment of the International Space Station, and from there the picture enters the Flight Control Center, whose specialists will be able to cooperate operatively with cosmonauts, supervising the progress of work.

The transmission of a clear video signal between the equipment installed on the spacesuit and the ISS antennas can be carried out at a distance of up to two hundred meters and is designed for simultaneous operation of two specialists in space, so the PMU will also be able to get a more complete picture of what is happening.

New cameras that are mounted on the spacesuit have good viewing angles: horizontally - about 60 degrees, vertically around 50, diagonal - all 70. They are equipped with lighting, so you can work in the dark - the device itself turns on the flashlight if it considers that lighting for work is not enough. The power supply system was also developed: an electrovacuum thermal insulation is used to protect the power supply unit.

Now the video system is tested in RSC Energia on a complex stand. Experts say that the preparatory stage of testing is almost complete, and flight testing of equipment will begin in 2017.

The article is based on materials https://hi-news.ru/digital-cameras/razrabotana-novaya-sistema-videonablyudeniya-dlya-rossijskix-kosmonavtov.html.