MOOSE--Manned Orbital Operations Safety Equipment
In November of 1966, the General Electric Re-Entry Systems Department published a
brochure describing a "lightweight, erectable, one man re-entry vehicle for emergency
return to earth." MOOSE allowed one astronaut to leave his malfunctioning spacecraft,
de-orbit and land safely (hopefully) on earth. In a few excerpts, here's a condensed
version of the step by step process:
Step 1
"The astronaut dons a maximum protection space suit. The MOOSE unit is attached
to the back of the suit to which are also attached oxygen tanks and a chest-type
parachute." He removes the MOOSE and unfolds a six foot Mylar plastic bag and
attached heat shield. The heat shield was to be made of General Electric Elastomeric
Shield Material (ESM). He steps into the bag and harness and zips the bag closed.
Step 2
The astronaut pushes himself away from the disabled spacecraft and activates two foam
canisters in the Mylar bag. The foam forms a solid wall in the plastic bag, contoured to
the astronaut's back and sides.
Step 3
"At this point the astronaut is comfortably encapsulated with foam at his back
and sides , the front of his body protected only by the aluminum plastic sheet."
Step 4
This is where the fun part begins! The astronaut uses his "attitude/de-orbit
package to orient the MOOSE to the correct de-orbit attitude. This package contains, among
other things, a portable rocket motor. The twin jet exhausts of the motor protrude through
the plastic cover in front of the astronaut and fire in the backward direction. After the
correct de-orbit velocity has been attained the astronaut orients the MOOSE to the proper
re-entry attitude."
Step 5
"The re-entry sequence requires no further effort by the astronaut who sees
himself surrounded by a ball of fire as the friction of the earth's atmosphere boils away
the outer layers of his ablative heat shield. Although engulfed by flame, no heat reaches
the astronaut's body--protected by the insulating plastic foam and his space suit."
Step 6
"During and after re-entry, MOOSE is aerodynamically stable. Radio signals and
radar chaff ejection are automatically initiated. The parachute is deployed at
approximately 30,000 feet. A survival kit included in the vehicle is equipped to maintain
the astronaut in any earth environment. If touch-down occurs in water, the foam vehicle
floats the astronaut like a raft, automatically deploying sofar bombs and dye
markers."
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