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TP-82: The Gun Cosmonauts Carried On Space Missions
HughPickens.com writes James Simpson has an interesting story about the TP-82 survival pistol that Russian cosmonauts carried into space with them on missions between 1982 and 2006. But calling it a pistol is slightly misleading—the TP-82 was essentially a sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun with a short-barreled rifle added onto it. Having a gun inside a thin-walled spacecraft filled with oxygen sounds crazy, but the Soviets had their reasons. Much of Russia is desolate wilderness. A single mishap during descent could strand cosmonauts in the middle of nowhere. In March 1965, cosmonaut Alexey Leonov landed a mechanically-faulty Voskhod space capsule in the snowy forests of the western Urals 600 miles from his planned landing site. For protection, Leonov had a nine-millimeter pistol. He feared the bears and wolves that prowled the forest—though he never encountered any. But the fear stayed with him. Later in his career, Leonov made sure the Soviet military provided all its cosmonauts with a survival weapon. For the Soviets, the weapon was a case of "better safe than sorry," and from 1986, it was a permanent fixture in the portable survival kits of every Soyuz mission. "Astronauts of all nationalities—including Americans—have trained with the TP-82," writes Simpson. "And still today, before they ride the Soyuz to space, they must complete a Russian survival training course in the Black Sea and the Siberian forest."
Am I the only one that initially misread it as TI-82 and was trying to figure out how to use a calculator as a gun?
A gun like this, triple barreled with shotgun and rifle barrels is called a drilling. Most typically they have two shotgun barrels and a rifle barrel, but other combinations are possible, e.g. one shotgun barrel, one larger caliber (e.g. .30-06) rifle barrel, and a small caliber rifle (e.g. .22lr) barrel.
>> in the wake of the past year's tragic violence involving professional astronauts...the open access to such lethal hardware needs reappraisal
Good thing there's no other way to die on the way to, in or on the way back from space.
Quite so. But as described in the Wikipedia article linked the TP-82 is a triple-barreled weapon featuring two smooth-bore 32-guage shotgun barrels and a rifled barrel for firing 5.45×39mm rounds.
Basically two shotguns plus one rifle all sharing a single stock. Where's the problem?
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
Although its not widely discussed, i find many of the other elements of the soviet survival kit fascinating:
1. PT3: tactical eating potato (1) if bear like potato
2. V92: Vodka (potato but liquid) for drink in case of bear
3. LL2: 40 pound brass bust of glorious comrade Lenin (maybe show bear)
4. C32: Camera, 3 photos for secret picture of bear (can also take picture of potato)
5. T21: Mikheil Jacks son cassete playing tape for when landing in america. to request bills jean lover can save life (do not show potato, do not play into bear)
6. PT2: Second potato (removed by secret police, holster only. is no second potato. you are of greed.)
Good people go to bed earlier.
Salyut 3, a Soviet military space station, was launched in '74 equipped with an anti-aircraft cannon. The gun was aimed by orienting the whole station. Far more interesting than some survival gun.
Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
The American pilot version - cut down bolt action in 22 Hornet. Since it has a barrel less than 16" and an OAL of less than 26" it falls under NFA purview, so there is a tax stamp associated (and several months wait).
http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti...
The other "more common" but still rare is the M6 version which is 22 hornet over a 410 shotgun on a weird skeleton style stock and weirder firing mechanism
http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti...
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
Yes, the Apollo capsule carried shark repellant in the survival kit (as well as a .22 cal pistol). Of course, that was in the days prior to lasers. Now they would have to have sunglasses as well.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Pheasant?
I think your sig is bleeding over (so to speak) into your comments.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
A space bear once bit my sister. No realli!
Although a 32 gauge shotgun and the 5.24 mm (single shot) bullet would make shooting a bear somewhat problematic.
You could successfully shoot yourself after being wounded by the bear, but that's about it. Same thing with the 9 mm. A bit on the weak side for a 600 pound + half armored pissed off animal.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
or if you manage to land safely after a mechanical failure only to be eaten by wolves.
So the "gun thing" is not really a "Russian thing", as implied; it's simply old-fashioned boy scouting: "Be Prepared".
Table-ized A.I.
I've heard that the recommended way to take down a bear with an underpowered handgun is to wait until it attacks and then shove your hand into its mouth and fire. Not something you want to try except as a last resort, but with luck the bullet(s) will puncture the thinner bone in the roof of the mouth. I used to know a lunatic hunter that claimed the maneuver had once saved his life.
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
So after 35 hours of instruction, somewhere around $7000 is costs, able to pass an annual physical and mental evaluation, and speak clearly in English, . You'd be allowed to drive a 50hp, two passenger car up to 45mph, during the day, non-highway roads only, and only when the weather is clear and sunny. This would apply regardless of which country you live in btw.
If you were ever convicted of reckless behavior or a DUI you'd lose your license forever.
As far as gun owners needing to be astronauts, that's over-kill. Idiots with guns tends to be a self correcting problem. I thought all liberals preached natural selection. Why do they fight so hard against it?
It's to shoot your fellow cosmonaut in the knee and run away.
Make sure you file off the front sight so it doesn't hurt so bad when the bear shoves it up your ass.
love is just extroverted narcissism
Having a gun inside a thin-walled spacecraft filled with oxygen sounds crazy,
Having a spacecraft filled with pure oxygen sounds and is crazy. The Apollo 1 fire (1967) showed just how crazy it is. Which is why they don't do it anymore. Neither ISS nor the Russian capsules have a pure oxygen atmosphere. In fact, the ISS atmosphere is ground-level pressure with 20% oxygen. Only the EVA suits have a low-pressure, high-oxygen breathable mix.
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