This pic shows the main Soyuz TM simulator. One can see the basic structure of the Soyuz quite clearly: at the top is the egg-shaped habitation module, with a thin aluminium skin and enough space inside for three cosmonauts to move around while in orbit. Below is the descent module, with heavy heat shielding and the cockpit. Not shown is the propulsion module containing fuel tanks and engines, which lies below the descent module. The cosmonauts are lying in a fetal position in the descent module during launch and re-entry. The habitation module is the only piece of the Soyuz that survives re-entry, everything else burns up in the atmosphere like a shooting star. |