On developing a system for simulating reduced gravity using mechanical rigs

The paper discusses the functionality of the experimental testing facility for extravehicular activities (EVA) at RSC Energia and it's role in the development and evolution of EVA equipment and technologies, of the problem of simulating artificial microgravity for in-orbit EVA and gravity for activities on surfaces of planets in the mechanical gravity compensation rig, and proposes approaches to their solution. Ground-based experimental development, tests, simulation of EVA environment are the factors that determine the success of EVA operations. To develop an EVA, the method of “semi-natural” physical simulation is used, where the man-spacesuit system, the compartments structure and EVA equipment are represented by actual hardware, while microgravity is simulated using a mechanical test rig. RSC Energia has mockups of space station modules and the test rig Koordinata for gravity compensation. The Koordinata gravity compensation test rig at RSC Energia is a proving ground for conducting advanced exploratory work, formulating human engineering requirements, prototyping, evaluating hardware compatibility with the spacesuit, testing the equipment that cannot be tested using simulations in reduced-gravity aircraft or neutral-buoyancy facilities.