Tests of a new rope-assisted launching device designed for the manned Eagle spacecraft were carried out.

Eight test engineers, including two experienced cosmonauts Alexander Kaleri and Yury Usachev, participated in the testing, which took place in two stages.

First, the device was tested separately and in slow motion, after which the specialists divided into crews and conducted tests in space suits.

The tested equipment will come in handy, for example, during landing and enable the personnel to get out of the spacecraft on their own.

According to Kaleri, if the Eagle should happen to land, the cosmonauts might have to get out of the spacecraft through the overhead hatch instead of the side hatch. That's where this equipment comes in handy. It is also needed during vertical landing of the spacecraft "on its feet" in normal mode.

For example, this equipment is not used on the Soyuz, because the ship itself is small and has one hatch, added Usachev, who has twice traveled to the International Space Station.

At the moment, testing engineers are figuring out what advantages and disadvantages different rope-launching systems have. Roscosmos said that more extensive tests of the selected device will be conducted further, after which step-by-step instructions for its use will be drawn up.

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Author: Ksenia Gustova