Encyclopedia Astronautica
ISS Pirs

1L, was built by Energia and derived from Soyuz hardware. It had a mass of around 3900 kg and was a 4.1 m long, 2.6 m diameter ovoid. The SO1 was named Pirs (Russian for "pier") and was delivered to the station by Progress M-SO1 in a completely automatic rendezvous and docking operation. Pirs provided extra clearance from the Station for ships docking underneath Zvezda, and was used as an airlock for spacewalks using the Russian Orlan EVA suits.

Gross mass: 6,850 kg (15,100 lb).
Height: 4.10 m (13.40 ft).
Diameter: 2.60 m (8.50 ft).

• Russia Russian Federation Space Systems More...

• International Space Station American manned space station. Development from 1994. Assembled in orbit from 1998, with completion expected 2010. In 1987-1993 the Russians successfully assembled and operated the 124-metric ton Mir station. More...

• Progress M-SO Russian docking and airlock module for the International Space Station. First launch 2001.09.14. Delivered to the station by the Progress service module, which was jettisoned after docking. More...

• Manned Category of spacecraft. More...

• Space station module Category of spacecraft. More...

• Soyuz Russian orbital launch vehicle. The world's first ICBM became the most often used and most reliable launch vehicle in history. The original core+four strap-on booster missile had a small third stage added to produce the Vostok launch vehicle, with a payload of 5 metric tons. Addition of a larger third stage produced the Voskhod/Soyuz vehicle, with a payload over 6 metric tons. Using this with a fourth stage, the resulting Molniya booster placed communications satellites and early lunar and planetary probes in higher energy trajectories. By the year 2000 over 1,628 had been launched with an unmatched success rate of 97.5% for production models. Improved models providing commercial launch services for international customers entered service in the new millenium, and a new launch pad at Kourou was to be inaugurated in 2009. It appeared that the R-7 could easily still be in service 70 years after its first launch. More...

• Korolev Russian manufacturer of rockets, spacecraft, and rocket engines. Korolev Design Bureau, Kaliningrad, Russia. More...