Unusual items were in space

Once upon a dime h5>
It all started, probably before the flight into space. Even when the Soviet Union launched the dogs, mostly among non-technical personnel of fierce debate - whether to work in conditions of weightlessness mechanical watches? And now, after landing dogs ringlets found a watch, horse-cloth sewn to the dog, and leafless smuggling globe March 9, 1961. Owner hours, aviation medical Abram Moiseevich Genin, of course, was quite serious "scolding" for the unauthorized experiments, however, he was immediately praised for decisiveness Korolev [1] .
The Americans are also very similar began early. For the second flight of the program "Mercury" as souvenirs astronaut Gus Grissom took two packs of fifty dimes, several small models of the capsule "Mercury", three one-dollar bills and two sets of pilot's "wings» [2] . However, almost immediately after landing, he regretted it - spontaneously shooting hatch capsule, the capsule began to sink, the suit also scored the water, pulled down, and overweight was obviously useless. can see dramatic video . "Grissom dime" is now rumored to be traded on the Internet, but I suspect that it is a fake.
The next notable incident occurred during the flight "Gemini 3". Astronaut John Young took a flight in an ordinary sandwich out of the ordinary diner near the spaceport [3] . And with a straight face he asked his partner Grissom. According to the records of negotiations in the cockpit, to enjoy a sandwich astronauts failed, most likely, he began to crumble. Crumbs are dangerous in zero gravity - they can get into the eyes, trachea or technique causes problems up to the short circuit. After landing a scandal at the Congress - a politician demanded cuts in funding for the space program, calling such antics mockery. Curiously, the story is quite dark, because it is not clear, it dragged Young smuggling, or with the permission of Dick Slayton, bureau chief astronaut, or a sandwich to him this unfortunate astronaut Walter Schirra slipped, fond of practical jokes. In any case, in spite of the scandal, nor young, nor Grissom suffered no significant punishment and Young then made a brilliant career space.
Achieving the "first space mail" it was taken by the Soviet Union, when the astronauts Khrunov and Elisha in suits "have visited a visit" to the cosmonaut Shatalov clicking between docked "Soyuz-5" and "Soyuz-4" and passing the last letters, telegrams and newspapers published after his start [4] . < br />

In many places of the lunar module h5>
Various unusual objects began to fly into space almost on a regular basis during the American lunar program.
"Apollo 11" was carrying part of the propeller and wing aircraft of the Wright brothers [5] and diamond-encrusted badge astronaut Dick Slayton, who because of health problems are not getting access to space flight.
In "Apollo 12," flew to the camera self-timer "Hasselblad» [6] . Astronaut Alan Bean wanted to make a frame with two astronauts together - a unique photos and draw scientists. Alas, a small timer lost in things, it is not found in time and Bina remains only to paint a picture "Stunning photograph that we have not done." By the way, he has a lot of pretty, if somewhat monotonous, paintings here .


"Apollo 14" delivered on the moon golf club (thread coincides with the tool for collecting samples) and a pair of balls. The suit - uncomfortable clothing for golf, and despite the statement "a mile, miles and miles of" balls Alan Shepard flew only a couple of hundred meters [7] . Edgar Mitchell was not in debt and gave up full-time handle some equipment like a spear. Give the Olympics on the moon :) In fairness it should be noted that golf still "play" in Earth orbit in 2006, but it was an advertisement of goods for golf, and I do not want her PR.

"Apollo 15" was marked by perhaps the biggest set of stuff for his era. Firstly, the astronauts took with them falcon feather and held a short lesson in physics Live:

Secondly, the astronauts had a very touching ceremony for all known them died astroavtam and astronauts left the moon a sign with their name and figure of the Fallen Astronaut [ 8] .
And third, in addition to the legal envelope which they had to be stamped, the astronauts took another four hundred illegal, which had planned to make [9] < / a>. The result was an ugly story of the astronauts were punished not only the participants, and NASA was very serious to control things that are sent into space the astronauts took with them. Sets personal belongings (Personal Preference Kit) NASA began to surrender in advance to the agency reviewed and whether it will authorize things in flight.

And the shuttle - even more h5>
Space Shuttle - the big car. Numerous crew, a lot of space, but still they are actually constantly flew to underload. Therefore, at the expense of any curious contraption here is already beginning to go to the hundreds. And recall the only really unusual:
On mission STS-51F experiment was carried out for the consumption of carbonated beverages in weightlessness. If not for the educational benefit - I would have about this case, I did not tell. Because the drink was "Coca-Cola" and "Pepsi" and this experiment is very burdening marketing. Both companies have gathered for the opening of a conventional device with soda cans (structurally different), and the astronauts checked the convenience of consumption and taste of the contents. The results were so-so - instead of the liquid in the weightlessness of soda foam was obtained, and the refrigerator was not on the Space Shuttle .


Once Speaking of fluids in weightlessness, it is worth recalling the history of the Soviet cosmonauts. According to an interview with Georgy Grechko , he was involved in smuggling sending canned beer into orbit. No special device for drinking turned embarrassing - foam scattered on the walls, there was nothing to drink. There is also a very famous story about a flask of brandy. The most I liked the version, the first crew, forgotten physics, could only drink half a flask, because in weightlessness cognac and mixed air and drink at work. Next the crew of high-school physics and ingenuity in the world did not leave and drank cognac, creating artificial congestion.
Well, before returning to the shuttle's worth remembering a couple of Soviet history.
"Soyuz-17" docks with the station "Salyut-4". Astronauts Gubarev and Grechko open the door and see the poster "On entering the house doormat» . The very same Savitskaya brought a blouse with lead weighting for the effect of the wings. According to rumors, it turned out beautifully.
STS-117 were brought into space archeological exhibit - a sign of the Jamestown colony in 1607 .
Well, already beyond the absurd is a capsule with the earth from your favorite stadium of one of the STS-123 astronauts .

Unions and ISS h5>
On the "union" has long been a tradition - as "an indicator of gravity" each crew takes a small toy mascot. Now to the ISS while away watch black cat Dimler commander of the crew "Soyuz TMA-10M" Oleg Kotov and white Olympic Bear "Soyuz TMA-11M." Incidentally, the toys in orbit happened addition - flight engineer Karen Nyberg spare time sewed toy from old T-shirts and fabric, which is littered with food containers Russia .


And, of course, the recent history of the torch. Article two weeks waiting for the photos in high resolution.
In fairness it should be noted that this is the third torch, which has been in orbit - the first time the Olympic torch flew into space in 1996 on STS-78, the second - in 2000 on STS-101 . But removal of the torch into space with the "relay race" on EVA - for the first time:


It's not really an "object", but the missile itself was unusual - on top of the fuel tanks and other non-cryogenic sections were glued to film in the style of "patchwork". I do not remember any more boosters art made out:


Well, the last picture very well reflect the fact that the flight into space - a joint effort of many people:




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