ZHUKOVSKY. Aug 29 (Interfax) - The tests of the new Sokol-M spacesuit for the Federatsiya spacecraft will be conducted within the next two years, head of the scientific-production enterprise Zvezda Sergei Pozdnyakov told reporters.
"The design tests are now starting. Autonomous tests will begin next year. Ground tests involving the spacecraft will be carried out within the next two years," Pozdnyakov said.
The new Russian Sokol-M spacesuit can be put on within 2.5 minutes, he said.
"A norm [for putting on the spacesuit] exists, it's five minutes, but in reality it's half as much," Pozdnyakov said.
The new spacesuit will be more convenient and ergonomic, he said. In particular, Russian spacesuits will have hermetic zippers for the first time.
In addition, the spacesuit can be adjusted for different cosmonauts depending on their height and other parameters.
Full import substitution for the parts for the new spacesuit is not possible as some materials are simply not produced in Russia, Pozdnyakov said.
"We want the best spacesuit in the world and therefore we take the best of what exists in the world. There are currently no good polyurethane films in Russia. Hermetic zippers are currently not made in Russia. Therefore, we get imported ones," he said.