Astronaut laser pistol. made in the USSR
The first weapon to be in space was the Makarov pistol, which had been part of the cosmonaut's emergency supply since Yuri Gagarin's flight. Since 1982, it was replaced by SONAZ, specially designed for survival and self-defense in conditions of an emergency emergency landing - “ small arms wearable emergency stock", also known under the marking TP-82, is a three-barreled astronaut pistol.
The Americans approached the problem more simply and decided to arm their astronauts with classic survival knives, called “Astro 17” and made in the style legendary knife Bowie.
In the 70s of the last century cold war left its mark on the space program.
In 1984, as part of the Almaz program, to protect the Soviet OPS (manned orbital stations) and DOS (long-term manned stations) Salyut from satellite inspectors and interceptors of a potential enemy at the Military Academy of the Missile Forces strategic purpose(Strategic Missile Forces) was developed for real fantastic weapon- fiber laser gun.
The research group was headed by the head of the department, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Major General Viktor Samsonovich Sulakvelidze. Theoretical and experimental research lethal effect The laser pistol was studied by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Boris Nikolaevich Duvanov. Worked on drawings researcher A.V. Simonov, research fellow L.I. participated in the tests. Avakyants and adjunct V.V. Gorev.
The designers set as their goal the development compact weapons to disable enemy optical systems.
The main elements of a laser pistol, like any laser, are the active medium, the pump source and the optical resonator.
As the medium, the designers first chose a yttrium-aluminum garnet crystal, which generates a beam in the infrared range at a relatively low pump power. Mirrors sprayed onto its ends served as a resonator. For optical pumping, a small-sized gas-discharge flash lamp was used. Since even the most compact power source weighed 3 - 5 kg, it had to be placed separately from the gun.
At the second stage, it was decided to replace the active medium with fiber-optic elements - in them, as in the garnet crystal, radiation was initiated by neodymium ions. Due to the fact that the diameter of such a “thread” was approximately 30 microns, and the surface of the bundle assembled from its segments (from 300 to 1000 pieces) was large, the lasing threshold (lowest pump energy) was reduced, and resonators became unnecessary.
The matter remained with a small-sized optical pumping source. In this capacity, it was decided to use disposable pyrotechnic flash lamps.
Each ten-millimeter cylinder contained a pyrotechnic mixture - zirconium foil, oxygen and metal salts and a tungsten-rhenium filament coated with flammable paste to ignite it.
Ignited by an electric spark from external source such a lamp burns out in 5-10 milliseconds at a temperature of about 5000 degrees Kelvin. Thanks to the use of zirconium foil, the specific light energy of the pyrotechnic lamp is three times higher than that of conventional samples that use magnesium. Metal salts added to the mixture “adjust” the lamp radiation to the absorption spectrum of the active element. The pyrotechnic mixture is non-toxic and not subject to spontaneous detonation.
Eight flash lamps are located in the magazine, similar to cartridges firearm. After each “shot,” the spent lamp is ejected like a cartridge case, and the next ammunition is fed into the lighting chamber. The source of energy for electric ignition is a “Krona” battery mounted in a special guide under the barrel.
The fiber optic active element absorbs radiation from the burning lamp, which causes it to fire a laser pulse through the barrel of the gun at the target.
The beam fired from the barrel of a weapon retains its burning and blinding effect at a distance of up to 20 meters.
On the basis of a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp, a laser revolver with a drum magazine with a capacity of 6 rounds and a single-shot ladies' laser pistol were designed.
The developers announced the possibility of modifying the pistol from military weapons into a medical instrument (apparently, this required replacing the optical pump source).
All experimental work was carried out manually. Upon completion of the research, serial production of lamps was already underway at one of the enterprises, but the conversion defense industry put an end to the development of the project. Production line was curtailed, however, work still continued due to inertia, but until the stock of produced lamps ran out.
Classmates
In the previous article we wrote about the development of laser technologies in the service Ground Forces USSR, and specifically about self-propelled laser complexes"Stiletto" and "Compression":
In this article we will reduce the scope and talk about more portable weapons - laser space pistols and revolvers.
The first weapon to be in space was the Makarov pistol, which had been part of the cosmonaut's emergency supply since Yuri Gagarin's flight. Since 1982, it was replaced by SONAZ - a “portable emergency small weapon”, specially designed for survival and self-defense in conditions of an emergency emergency landing, also known under the marking TP-82, a three-barreled cosmonaut pistol.
The Americans approached the problem more simply, and for survival they decided to arm their astronauts with classic knives made in the style of the legendary Bowie knife, called “Astro 17”:
The first attempts to create weapons, damaging factor which was a laser beam, were undertaken back in the 1970s, both in the USA and in the USSR. However, it was difficult to solve such a problem taking into account the scientific and technological development of that time. During development in the USSR, it was initially decided that this weapon will be non-lethal. Its main purpose was self-defense and disabling enemy electronic and optical systems.
In 1984, as part of the Almaz program, to protect the Soviet OPS (orbital manned stations) and DOS (long-term manned stations) of the same name, Salyut, from inspector satellites and potential enemy interceptors, the Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) developed A truly fantastic weapon is the laser pistol.
The research group was headed by the head of the department, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Major General Viktor Samsonovich Sulakvelidze. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Boris Nikolaevich Duvanov carried out theoretical and experimental studies of the destructive effect of a laser pistol. Researcher A.V. worked on the drawings. Simonov, research fellow L.I. participated in the tests. Avakyants and adjunct V.V. Gorev.
The designers set as their goal the development of compact weapons to disable enemy optical systems.
In the photo: prototypes of laser weapons. From left to right: Single Shot Laser Pistol, 6 Shot Laser Revolver, 8 Shot Laser Pistol.
At the first stage of development, the authors of the future invention established that for this purpose a relatively small radiation energy is sufficient - in the range of 1 - 10 J (allowing, by the way, to blind the enemy). As a medium, the designers first chose a yttrium aluminum garnet crystal, which generates a beam in the infrared range at a relatively low pump power. Mirrors sprayed onto its ends served as a resonator. For optical pumping, a small-sized gas-discharge flash lamp was used. Since even the most compact power source for such a lamp weighed 3 - 5 kg, it had to be placed separately from the gun.
At the second stage, the designers followed the path of selecting a small-sized laser pump source, and they also decided to change the active medium to fiber-optic elements - in them, as in the garnet crystal, radiation was initiated by neodymium ions. Due to the fact that the diameter of such a “filament” was approximately 30 microns, and the surface of the bundle assembled from its segments (from 300 to 1000 pieces) was large, the lasing threshold (lowest pump energy) was reduced, and resonators became unnecessary.
The matter remained with a small-sized optical pumping source. Pyrotechnic flash lamps, which have sufficient energy and at the same time very compact, were used as such a source.
A pyrotechnic flash lamp has the same design as a conventional one. pistol cartridge 10 mm caliber, placed by the bolt from the magazine into the chamber, which is the lighting chamber. Each ten-millimeter cylinder contained a pyrotechnic mixture - zirconium foil, oxygen, metal salts, and a tungsten-rhenium filament coated with flammable paste to ignite it.
Ignited by an electric spark from an external source, such a mixture burns out in 5-10 milliseconds at a temperature of about 5000 degrees Kelvin. Thanks to the use of zirconium foil, the specific light energy of the pyrotechnic lamp is three times higher than that of conventional samples that use magnesium. Metal salts added to the mixture “adjust” the lamp radiation to the absorption spectrum of the active element. The pyrotechnic mixture is non-toxic and not subject to spontaneous detonation. The source of energy for electric ignition of the flash lamp is a “Krona” type battery fixed in a special guide under the barrel.
As a result, the weapon turned out to be 8-round, non-automatic - reloading is done only manually, with a striking range laser beam- up to 20 meters.
On the basis of a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp, a laser revolver with a drum magazine with a capacity of 6 charges and a single-shot ladies' laser pistol were designed.
The developers announced the possibility of modifying the pistol from a military weapon into a medical instrument (apparently, this required replacing the optical pumping source).
All experimental work was carried out manually. Upon completion of the research, serial production of lamps was already underway at one of the enterprises, but the conversion of the defense industry put an end to the development of the project. The production line was closed, but work continued by inertia until the stock of already produced lamps ran out.
Currently laser weapon with a pyrotechnic flash lamp is recognized as a monument of science and technology of the 1st category, and is exhibited in the museum of the Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces named after Peter the Great.
Note: The title photo shows Han Solo's gun from " Star Wars" It has nothing to do with Soviet laser weapons :)
The first weapon to go into space was Makarov pistol, which was part of the cosmonaut's emergency reserve since the flight Yuri Gagarin. Since 1982, it was replaced by something specially designed for survival and self-defense in conditions of an emergency emergency landing. SONAZ- “carryable emergency small arms”, also known under the marking TP-82, a three-barreled cosmonaut pistol.
The Americans approached the problem more simply and decided to equip their astronauts with classic survival knives, called “Astro 17” and made in the style of the legendary Bowie knife.
In the 70s of the last century, the Cold War left its mark on the space program.
IN 1984 year within the program "Diamond" To protect the Soviet OPS (orbital manned stations) and DOS (long-term manned stations) "Salyut" from the satellite inspectors and interceptors of a potential enemy, a truly fantastic weapon was developed at the Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) - a fiber laser pistol.
The research group was headed by the head of the department, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Major General Victor Samsonovich Sulakvelidze. Theoretical and experimental studies of the destructive effect of a laser pistol were carried out by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Boris Nikolaevich Duvanov. Researcher A.V. worked on the drawings. Simonov, research fellow L.I. participated in the tests. Avakyants and adjunct V.V. Gorev.
The designers set as their goal the development of compact weapons to disable enemy optical systems.
The main elements of a laser pistol, like any laser, are the active medium, the pump source and the optical resonator.
As a medium, the designers first chose a yttrium aluminum garnet crystal, which generates a beam in the infrared range at a relatively low pump power. Mirrors sprayed onto its ends served as a resonator. For optical pumping, a small-sized gas-discharge flash lamp was used. Since even the most compact power supply weighed 3 - 5 kg, it had to be placed separately from the pistol.
At the second stage, it was decided to replace the active medium with fiber-optic elements - in them, as in the garnet crystal, radiation was initiated by neodymium ions. Due to the fact that the diameter of such a “filament” was approximately 30 microns, and the surface of the bundle assembled from its segments (from 300 to 1000 pieces) was large, the lasing threshold (lowest pump energy) was reduced, and resonators became unnecessary.
The matter remained with a small-sized optical pumping source. In this capacity, it was decided to use disposable pyrotechnic flash lamps.
Each ten-millimeter cylinder contained a pyrotechnic mixture - zirconium foil, oxygen and metal salts and a tungsten-rhenium filament coated with flammable paste to ignite it.
Ignited by an electric spark from an external source, such a lamp burns out within 5-10 milliseconds at a temperature of about 5000 degrees Kelvin. Thanks to the use of zirconium foil, the specific light energy of the pyrotechnic lamp is three times higher than that of conventional samples that use magnesium. Metal salts added to the mixture “adjust” the lamp radiation to the absorption spectrum of the active element. The pyrotechnic mixture is non-toxic and not subject to spontaneous detonation.
Eight flash lamps are located in the magazine, similar to firearm cartridges. After each “shot,” the spent lamp is ejected like a cartridge case, and the next ammunition is fed into the lighting chamber. The source of energy for electric ignition is a “Krona” battery mounted in a special guide under the barrel.
The fiber optic active element absorbs radiation from the burning lamp, which causes it to fire a laser pulse through the barrel of the gun at the target.
The beam fired from the barrel of a weapon retains its burning and blinding effect at a distance of up to 20 meters.
On the basis of a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp, a laser revolver with a drum magazine with a capacity of 6 rounds and single shot ladies laser pistol.
The developers announced the possibility of modifying the pistol from a military weapon into a medical instrument (apparently, this required replacing the optical pumping source).
All experimental work was carried out manually. Upon completion of the research, serial production of lamps was already underway at one of the enterprises, but the conversion of the defense industry put an end to the development of the project. The production line was curtailed, although work still continued due to inertia, but until the supply of manufactured lamps ran out.
Currently, a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp is recognized as a monument of science and technology of the 1st category and is on display in the museum of the Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces named after Peter the Great.
Constructor: The design team led by V.S. SulakvelidzeDesigned by: 1984
Manufacturer: Military Academy Strategic Missile Forces
Years of production: Not serially produced
Country: USSR
Caliber: 10mm (disposable pyrotechnic flash lamp) Type: Non-lethal laser weapon
Weight: Unknown (close in mass to firearm analogues) Length: About 180mm
Shooting mode: Semi-automatic
Type of ammunition: 8-round magazine
Working principle: Optical laser pumping
Effective range: About 20 m
Modifications: Laser revolver, ladies laser pistol, medical laser.
Laser weapons for warfare in space during the Cold War. The 60s and 70s of the 20th century can rightfully be called the “romantic era of space exploration.” After Yuri Gagarin's flight in 1961 most humanity sincerely believed that the onset of a new, cosmic era was just around the corner. Science-fiction writers, newspaper writers, even scientists enthusiastically described a future in which Mars and Venus would be conquered, residential complexes and entire cities would be built on the Moon, and the Earth would be surrounded by a whole host of space stations. However, we should not forget that the 70s of the last century were also the height of the Cold War, a time of confrontation between two superpowers - the USA and the USSR, competing in absolutely everything. Naturally, the attention of the leadership of the “socialist East” and the “capitalist West” was focused on space developments.
Political tension reached such limits that even the possibility of a possible confrontation in space at the level of “American astronaut” versus “Soviet cosmonaut” was not excluded. It was also necessary to arm the “space explorers” in case of landing in remote corners of our planet: there was high probability delays of the rescue team, and the astronaut had to somehow protect himself from wild animals and get food for himself. The Americans did not “reinvent the wheel” and decided to equip their astronauts with classic survival knives, called “Astro 17” and made in the style of the legendary Bowie knife. Representatives of the Country of Soviets turned out to be much more original, creating SONAZ - a “carryable emergency small weapon”, also known under the marking TP-82, a three-barreled cosmonaut pistol. However, such types of weapons, which could theoretically be useful on the surface of our planet, were practically useless in space. Firing a firearm in zero gravity conditions was impractical, since the recoil literally turned and threw the astronaut back, negating the effectiveness of the shot. In addition, firing inside space station could lead to very sad consequences, including damage to the lining of the station itself. The astronaut waving a knife was something out of a fantasy, in which starships move on steam power, and stokers throw pieces of uranium and plutonium into the furnace with shovels. However, the idea of arming an astronaut with weapons individual self-defense never left the minds of politicians and scientists. In the USSR, a decision was made to create weapons based on ultra-modern and the latest achievements science and technology - on laser technologies.
Laser pistol with pyrotechnic flash lamp
Creation activities laser installations, which could be used in military sphere, were started back in the 1970s, both in the USA and in the USSR. However, almost all developments of this type were distinguished by one thing: common feature: These were very bulky and fragile devices, difficult to set up and handle. For space, something fundamentally different was required - an astronaut’s individual laser self-defense weapon should be convenient, easy to handle, and compact. Essentially, it was necessary to develop a laser pistol that would be no different from its military firearms counterparts. All design research was entrusted to the VA Strategic Missile Forces (Military Academy Rocket Forces strategic purpose). By 1984, work on creating a new weapon was completed. Among the scientists participating in the project are Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Major General V.S. Sulakvelidze; Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor B.N. Duvanova; Researcher A.V. Simonova and a number of other names. Even at the first stage of work, it was decided that a laser pistol could and should be used not to destroy manpower (which was practically impossible to accomplish technically), but to disable the enemy’s optical systems - their sensitive elements. In addition, the new weapon could also be used to blind the enemy, since the human eye is based on the same physical principles, like any optical device. During the experiments, it was found that to influence the sensitive elements of optics, as well as the eyes, not too high radiation energy is required up to 10 Joules (which is comparable to a shot from air rifle), since the emitted rays are focused thanks to optical devices, increasing their density hundreds of times. Pyrotechnic flash lamps, which have sufficient energy and at the same time very compact, were used as a source of optical pumping for the laser pistol. The use of such “ammunition” contributed to the emergence of a second name for an astronaut’s individual laser self-defense weapon: a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp.
A laser gun with a pyrotechnic flash lamp is essentially an optical pumping fiber laser. As in any laser, its main elements are an optical cavity, an active medium, and an optical pump source. The optical resonator and active medium of a laser gun with a pyrotechnic flash lamp is an active fiber-optic element that absorbs radiation from the flash lamp, which burns out in the lighting chamber of the gun. In turn, this triggers a laser pulse in the element that travels through the barrel of the weapon and into the target.
Laser gun with pyrotechnic flash lamp in a museum
As we already mentioned above, the source of optical pumping for an astronaut’s individual self-defense laser weapon is pyrotechnic flash lamps (disposable), which are made in the form of 10 mm caliber cartridges. Inside these unique “cartridges” there is a tungsten-rhenium filament, which is coated with a flammable paste. The thread is used to ignite the pyrotechnic mixture, also placed inside the pyrotechnic flash lamps. The process of igniting the pyrotechnic mixture is carried out by supplying an electric spark from an external power source to the tungsten-rhenium filament of the lamp. As for the composition of the pyrotechnic mixture itself, it includes oxygen, zirconium foil and metal salts. Once ignited, the metal in the “ammunition” burns at a temperature of approximately 5 thousand degrees Kelvin over a period of time of about 5-10 milliseconds. Due to the presence of metal salts in the mixture, the radiation of the flash lamp is, as it were, “adjusted” to the absorption spectrum of the active element. Characteristic feature The pyrotechnic mixture is non-susceptible to spontaneous detonation and lacks toxicity. The flash lamps themselves, eight in number, are placed in the clip of an astronaut’s individual laser self-defense weapon, like cartridges in the clip of an ordinary pistol. After the “shot” is fired, the used lamp is thrown away, similarly spent cartridge case. Then the next “ammunition” is fed into the lighting chamber of the laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp. The beam fired from the barrel of a weapon retains its burning and blinding effect at a distance of up to 20 meters. Sights individual laser weapon for self-defense of an astronaut, simple, open type
Laser revolver
The main advantages of a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp are compactness, mobility and ease of use. Fortunately, the Cold War did not reach the point of confrontation in the orbit of our planet and fierce battles in transitions and cuttings spaceships remained the lot of directors and science fiction writers. Nowadays, an astronaut’s individual laser self-defense weapon is considered a monument of science and technology of the 1st category, and a copy of it is exhibited in the Museum of the History of the Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces named after Peter the Great.
Main characteristics of a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp: Caliber: 10 mm Standard ammunition: disposable pyrotechnic flash lamp Total weapon length: about 180 mm Effective firing range: about 20 m Initial bullet (shot) speed: close to the speed of light (299,792,458 ± 1. 2 m/s) Magazine capacity: 8 rounds Laser pistol with pyrotechnic flash lamp. Interesting facts:
Due to the use of zirconium foil in a pyrotechnic flash lamp, the specific light energy of the lamp is approximately three times higher than would be the case if magnesium was used, which is a common material for such devices. Based on a laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp, it was A laser revolver with a drum magazine with a capacity of 6 rounds was also designed.
By making minor changes to the design of an astronaut's individual laser self-defense weapon, it can be modified into a medical instrument.
Used materials from the site rulinia.ru
In the 60s and 70s of the last century, political tension reached such limits that even the possibility of a possible confrontation in space at the level of “American astronaut” versus “Soviet cosmonaut” was not excluded.The best minds of the USSR began to invent weapons for our defenseless cosmonauts in space.
Following the course of the native party and government, at the cost of enormous mental effort, such a weapon was created!
The Americans, who armed their astronauts with classic survival knives, called "Astro 17" and made in the style of the legendary Bowie knife, were put to shame.
It was a real victory in space! Laser pistol with pyrotechnic flash lamp (laser weapon for individual self-defense of astronauts)
A laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp (laser weapon for individual self-defense of cosmonauts) is a Soviet experimental hand-held non-lethal laser weapon, developed in 1984 by the design team of the Strategic Missile Forces Military Academy. Designed to effectively disable sensitive elements of enemy optical systems - in conditions spacecraft either in outer space in close combat - without the danger of damaging the casing or not optical equipment and without recoil, preventing use firearms in zero gravity.
It is a monument of science and technology.
History of creation
In the 70s of the 20th century, many states (primarily the USSR and the USA) launched programs leading work on the creation of various laser devices for military and peaceful purposes - including work began on the creation of weapons, damaging element which is a laser beam.
Employees of the Strategic Missile Forces began the development of an “individual laser weapon for cosmonaut self-defense” - a laser pistol. Research group was headed by the head of the department, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Major General Viktor Samsonovich Sulakvelidze (1919-1984). Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Boris Nikolaevich Duvanov carried out theoretical and experimental studies of the destructive effect of a laser pistol. The design of the weapon was worked out by researcher A.V. Simonov, researcher L.I. Avakyants and adjunct V.V. Gorev participated in the tests. The designers had a goal to develop a laser weapon that would not differ in weight, size and layout from an army pistol.
Device
The laser gun is an optically pumped fiber laser. Its main elements, like any laser, are the active medium, the pump source and the optical cavity.
The source of optical pumping of a laser pistol is a disposable pyrotechnic flash lamp, made in the form of 10 mm caliber cartridges, inside of which there is a pyrotechnic mixture and a tungsten-rhenium filament coated with flammable paste for igniting it. The pyrotechnic mixture is ignited by applying an electric spark to the tungsten-rhenium filament from an external source (battery located in the gun). Eight flash lamps are located in a clip, similar to cartridges in a firearm clip. After each “shot,” the spent lamp is thrown out like a cartridge case, and the next one is fed into the lighting chamber.
The pyrotechnic mixture of a flash lamp is zirconium foil, oxygen and metal salts. The ignited metal in the lamp burns out in 5-10 ms at a temperature of about 5000°K. Thanks to the use of zirconium foil in the flash lamp, the specific light energy of the pyrotechnic lamp is three times higher than that of conventional samples that use magnesium. Metal salts added to the mixture “adjust” the lamp radiation to the absorption spectrum of the active element. The pyrotechnic mixture is non-toxic and not subject to spontaneous detonation.
The active medium and optical resonator of the weapon are a fiber-optic active element that absorbs radiation from a flash lamp burning in the lighting chamber. This triggers a laser pulse in him, directed through the barrel of the gun towards the target.
The radiation energy, which is in the range of 1-10 J, is sufficient to disable the sensitive elements of the enemy’s optical systems (including human eyes), but is too small to damage the skin of the spacecraft or non- optical instruments(this is achieved due to the fact that the eye and optics focus the rays, increasing the radiation density by orders of magnitude).
The beam retains its blinding and burning effect at a distance of up to 20 m.
Options
Based on the laser pistol, a laser revolver with a drum magazine for six “cartridges” was also created. It is possible to modify the pistol from a military weapon into a medical instrument.
Laser pistol now
A laser pistol with a pyrotechnic flash lamp is a monument of science and technology. A copy of it is kept on display at the Museum of the History of the Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces named after Peter the Great, being the most popular exhibit of the museum.