Inside the Russian Soyuz Spacecraft

In this episode of NASA: Behind the Scenes, take a tour inside the Russian Soyuz, the vehicle which takes the expedition crews back and forth to the International Space Station. Astronaut Mike Fincke, a veteran of the Soyuz and shuttle, shows off the features of the vehicles and talks about what it's like to be inside.

[@Kalhie]

I loved this guy so much, so relaxed and simple way to explain the general details.

[@Aladdin4ek]

+Kalhie Nyo yeah , also he looks like Putin 4:40 ))) funny guy

[@ditto5044]

dinamyte chica ff

[@barryewillmore2426]

Thanks for your love 💝💝💝 and support all through this times

[@christiduong12]

Yeah he doesn't have to be all Picasso with his words

[@pauloyeghe1637]

You mean the astronaut. A guy is someone you randomly see in the street. Bozo.

[@balakrishnanprakash8552]

The biggest emergency in soyuz is the stick breaking.

[@evan5233]

Balakrishnan Prakash HAHA

[@Ninja-wx2sf]

Bro it's pretty strong 🙄 Doesn't make sense.

[@realtalk1310]

Or it falling out of your hand.

[@crocodile2006]

Soyuz 13: "Our engineers on the ground have determined your gonna need you to use duct tape, a rolled up piece of cardboard and a rubber band to reverse engineer the missing stick"

[@miragebg]

Thats why there are no buttons in front of the third passenger - to keep a spare stick

[@user-cs6tb9sq4h]

What a great review by a great astronaut! Thank you so much Mike for the respect to Russians, which is felt throughout this video. You are really one of the great Americans that can do critical thinking and decision making, with no russophobia poisining their brains. Being Russian, I do believe that America is a great nation, and that we will engage in all kinds of high-tech cooperation in the future. Cheers!!

[@pcblah]

***** Space X has a vehicle coming up soon for 2016-2017.

[@alexshi8583]

pcblah lol but space x is a private company. thats still disgrace to american gov

[@HowTo374]

Alex Shi SpaceX failed recently

[@alexshi8583]

***** lol i know. so? it was a test flight, i served as a good test flight so in the future problems wont happen. hopefully they diagnosed and solved the issues. i believe it was the oxidizer compartment that over heated or something.

[@cybberdadddy]

@117593729077358921697 It's a shame whats happening currently between our countries . Russian/American cooperation is what's best. Think of the things we could accomplish together. Its very depressing to see the current state of affairs.

[@shadow404atl]

One of the best NASA interviews about the Soyouz I've ever seen.

[@gregory2c3]

On my opinion, all astronauts and cosmonauts are real heroes! They do incredible job, very hard and so dangerous but always smile and respect each other. Best regards from Russia!

[@Tubeglowfun]

I like how the Russian's solve problems. Where NASA would probably do multi-million dollar ergonomics studies for the perfect console layout, Russians give the cosmonauts a stick to push the buttons. Problem solved. I like that.

[@knightofficer]

(thoughts of a cosmonaut): "what sort of ramshackle operation is this? the americans get an efficient and usable console and they give me a STICK?"

[@Antichrist04]

Another example of russian simplicity, is with the pens. Whereas the US spent millions on a pen where the ink flows to the tip in zero gravity, the russians use pencils.

[@knightofficer]

Antichrist04 actually the russians use pens too, graphite dust from pencils in micro gravity damages computer equipment

[@cyberpunk.386]

Thanks for debunking another myth.

[@user-mm1nt1it5v]

Antichrist04 lol smh....

[@vidaett]

The dragon capsule looks so futuristic compared to this.

[@joellouisfire]

And comfortable.

[@leandrogomes2351]

Its takes when 19 hours to get to space while soyuz only takes 6 hours

[@mowogfpv7582]

@@leandrogomes2351 the Soyuz six hour / four orbit rendezvous profile has only been around since 2012. Before that they flew a two day / 34 orbit profile. The enablers for the six hour rendezvous are that the station has to manouver to accommodate and that the vehicle has to launch dead on time in it's planned launch window. If they scrub then it's back to a two day rendezvous. The booster performance /orbital insertion also has to be dead on. Earlier Soyuz rockets could not reliably achieve this accuracy. Probably falcon/dragon could fly a faster rendezvous profile but it would trade mission assurance for slightly faster transit time. Is it worth it on a maiden test flight? and what is the point anyway given that dragon isn't nearly as cramped as soyuz? Maybe they will do it later. It took the Soyuz program 45 years to develop the ability!

[@tgn2502]

@@leandrogomes2351 its not anything to do with the dragon. Its just the launch window and orbital mechanics all that stuff that makes it take longer

[@iangoldfeld6473]

To be fair, the Soyuz was designed in the 60s.

[@rogertrooman7918]

I really like the Soyuz spacecraft! Reliable, safe and a fairly cheap means of travel to and from the ISS. Idk, there's something about space capsules that fascinates me for some reason. Like with the Soyuz, I love how it breaks into 3 separate parts before returning. If I had to travel to space, I'd definitely trust Soyuz any day 👌 👌 Good job Russia 🇷🇺 🇷🇺👍

[@Sleezystevie]

Cool as ice. "we relax and listen to some music, maybe american jazz". And then you fly a spaceship. Great interior shots of the TMA, can't find any better images anywhere. He speaks of not having gravity in a while like I speak of not having ceviche in a while. Bravo.

[@lalox3003]

wow very different inside look from the crew dragon! ~40 years

[@ThePc-DjHub]

Well it is elon musk after all

[@trololoev]

@@ThePc-DjHub this is time. Also Souz has living module, while dragon didn't have it.

[@jshepard152]

@@trololoev Dragon doesn't NEED a living module. It has that space (and much more) in the main cabin.

[@trololoev]

@@jshepard152 yea, because it SOO comfortable to have kitchen, toilet and place to sleep just in the chair next to other people. Privacy=0. Also it doesn't have "much more" space, they have same 1,8 meters per human, but Russia has separate big room next to cabin, but crew dragon all the time returned with crew sit in own urine for hours on water, while russian crew usually escape module in minutes after landing.

[@user-ft2fn4fs1s]

Все таки все космонавты - крутые пацаны. Вне зависимости от национальности.

[@artemkras]

So they give an apple to astronauts who land from space to the ground.... Good job, Mr.Newton )

[@Pookleberry]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Russian engineering.

[@UrielX1212]

Russians always practice the KISS method. Keep it simple!

[@justin-3985]

Plutonius X but it works for 50 years and is the safest spacecraft today

[@jshepard152]

@@justin-3985 Not anymore.

[@introswitch5178]

What a wonderful guy

[@menetoihin3247]

Soyuz is my favourite Too!

[@angloved8234]

Guys, I just want to say: " I love and respect you so much...I can't find anything else so important and so humbly done than your flights to and from the International Space Station." Everybody is to watch every single video devoted to the magnificent and unforgetable trips you go through and say "Wow, this is what our lives are to be spent on..." Wish you all the good luck and may the gods protect you in every step you make up there and down here!!!)))"

[@riyadhmatin2657]

Such a Great Astronaut Mike Fincke and he is so down to earth....so sophisticated and advanced this Russian Soyuz spacecraft...excellent informative video made by NASA.

[@zakariaelouardi2672]

the crew dragon looks straight from the future compared to this! however much respect for the russian to design a spacecraft so efficient and reliable since the 60'

[@aerodynamic1440]

Chinese products also look good. Let's see how long Dragon capsules last

[@Countcho]

@@aerodynamic1440 when was the last time a russian reused a rocket 7x to space?

[@RandomInside]

​@@Countcho Space X are reusing the boosters but after each return they are changing like 85% of the components , so you can't really say that is the same rocket... They keep the body (fuel tank) and some internal parts , but rest of the parts are new or rebuild. PS. How many failed launch space X had and how many did soyuz had ?

[@Countcho]

@@RandomInside how much does it cost a red to get to the iss and how much does it cost a smaller team of private citizens and americans? Failed launches isnt a bad thing in the testing phase for the most advanced rocket ever made. Its actually part of the developing and testing process. Duh.

[@RandomInside]

@@Countcho The cost is good , very good ... The US is using Soyuz for years now to get to the ISS

[@BrcPL]

Who's here after successful Crew Dragon Demo-2 Launch?

[@elliot7753]

BialyBrC - everyone that will ever exist is here after that event. What a stupid comment.

[@elitefarmerpricegaming4462]

BialyBrC me

[@elitefarmerpricegaming4462]

Elliot no your stupid for calling someone stupid if you don’t like something don’t comment on it

[@elliot7753]

Elite Farmer Price Gaming - AHAHAHAHA, I’m dying!!! What a hypocrite you are!! I wasn’t telling the guy he was stupid, I said his comment was stupid. And then you turn and call *me* stupid. AHAHA. thanks for making my day

[@LongHaulPilot]

Me

[@MrFang333333]

Great interviewer! I love these descriptions

[@RufftaMan]

awesome video. mike fincke has the most contagious smile. =) thanks for taking the time to make videos like this. they're always interesting to watch!

[@samuelcarvalho3691]

I like how he smiles at the end of every sentence.

[@sojutime]

Hope Mike gets a chance to fly the Orion.

[@voron27]

great video, feels like you actually there. thank Mike

[@5Perf65mm]

Mike Fincke gave a superb explanation. Thanks to NASA and Mike for this video.

[@theblackbaron2263]

It's very interesting seeing what it's like in This amazing spacecraft.

[@satyaprakashmathurmathur3115]

They are real heroes of space technology we salute them. Nicely explained by this guy.

[@neoscylax]

What a really informative video!! Thanks Mike! Hope you get to ride again soon! :-)

[@bestofvlad]

That was an amazing description. Thank you!

[@docskyhook2]

Mike Fincke you are a gem of a person. Your precise descriptions, friendly mannerisms and humble spirit are a joy to witness. Signed; Earthbound Observer

[@KD0IDB]

That's fantastic! Thank you for sharing your experience with us! This type of video is so intriguing to me. I want to know everything about it. The flight hardware just makes me speechless. It's amazing, all of it.

[@chechnya]

Mike Fincke seems like a great guy.. also gave an excellent explanation of the whole process.

[@pollzieboo]

Great video! I loved the ISS tours Mike did when he was up there. He's lovely!

[@apelsin3]

Nice! Thank you Mike Fincke! That is the best performance ever!

[@clintonleonard5187]

Great interview.

[@cibriosis]

Soyuz..basically the mig21 or the t55 of space travel.....i had a refrigerator asa a kid..i was at least 30 years old..also a lada..35 and still worked fine..russians have no finesse..but they built things quite solid..i will give them that

[@SuLokify]

Comparing Russian aerospace to American... It's like comparing a muscle car to a mechanical watch. Both amazing machines.

[@darthtrudeau4907]

I was actually at a convention where Chris Hatfield was talking about his career as an astronaut and he said those retro rockets on the souz turn a fatal car crash into a hard landing

[@filipino_GMA]

this is a awesome interview!

[@07yenisd]

Great job! Mike Fincke is the man!

[@wangson]

What an amazing, captivating video!! Thanks so much!

[@toemblem]

That crew module looks claustrophobic AF.

[@JimFinkTV]

Claustrophob'd out.. and the space inside left when you have a suit on.. ouch.. so, this living quarters area, I guess once you get in space and weightless, there appears to be, and probably is, as well as feels like there is more space to move around in. Would like to hear more about what you do after you are in space, and how the habitat area works. It has always seemed pretty frightening to have 3 people shoehorned in that ancient tub for 2-3 days.. wow... certainly must help make the station feel like a wide open wilderness when you get there.. Thanks so much Mike for sharing this story, anxious to hear more. ! And anxious to see space tec move away from rocker switches, and toggle switches, wow, pretty much the same as a 1964 MGB, for some controls. !! But hey, those switches and tech, got us to the moon and back, why change it eh ! And it's working still..

[@ricardosuarez8023]

Brilliant. Thanks for posting.

[@MarioSanchez-rl7qk]

Nice person this astronaut. Good russian equipment.

[@thankyoumichael]

it is always a great pleasure to listen to intelligent people who are thinking about higher matters, great video thank you!)

[@SadMetallist616]

Hello from Moscow! )

[@JeffreyAltmanskindocjeff]

fascinating review of what it is like to be on the Soyuz TMA spacecraft flight.

[@DmanX54]

Nice tour of the most reliable space vehicle!

[@mrwilfredmyers7566]

Thanks for explaining all of that.

[@princearthur4946]

Excellent presentation!

[@eshgholah]

You are awesome Mike. Thank you.

[@NovaDeb]

Extremely interesting! Thanks Mike.

[@barryewillmore2426]

Thanks for your love 💝💝💝 and support all through this times

[@manara65]

Very intresting video. Micke Fincke has a good feeling with the videos, he knows explain very good things that in other way seems unknown.

[@shjescaresme]

Great video!

[@Pilotguy251HC]

Really felt like I took a trip into space!!

[@CactusforceX]

cool guy! very good tour of the spacecraft

[@batterynerd8779]

Very, Very great Video

[@kamrankhan86]

lovely, thanks for the trip :)

[@cockerspanielhome]

Interesting, It's good that we are working together towards a common goal.

[@SladkaPritomnost]

Mike Fincke is a real professional.

[@tarnvedra9952]

LOL "Space Flight Participant" just call them cargo :D

[@ZenPunk]

"Self-integrating payload unit"

[@subliminal6529]

"Self-integrating payload unit" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[@GumballAstronaut7206]

Sentient Payload

[@boweneveritt3400]

Mike Fincke has some kind of manual what is that and where can I get pdf's of that technical stuff???

[@maksphoto78]

It's a funky term for a space tourist.

[@brandonhamilton833]

Mike is an absolute boss. Great to see an old video of him. True professional.

[@Daniel_L.]

This guy 2:50 is the voice of the space shuttle countdowns ;)

[@MaxQ10001]

What an amazing person 🤩

[@ricardoholanda4340]

This guy should be head of the State Department. Respect, intelligence and interpersonal skills. Things we haven't seen for decades.

[@annadan2647]

🚀Exquisite! Thank You! 😍👌❤

[@paraceratherium255]

Wow for 11 years ago the cameras are surprisingly good I wouldn’t be surprised if they spent for on the camera then the spacecraft. No, I’m not saying the Soyuz is cheap, I’m saying the camera is expensive.

[@LouisianaAstroRambler]

I'd be freaking out in that damn thing..

[@whydontyouwork]

great stuff.

[@ameliaanny2446]

Soyuz TMA was in Gravity movie!

[@stationminute]

Well done!

it is. there's a link to this channel on nasatelevision channel.

[@grzesiek1x]

he looks like a really nice person! i like it :D

[@R3L7EX]

very interesting.....

[@skipstah70]

cool thanks!

[@damienspectre4231]

Soyuz feels like the Model T in comparison to Dragon

[@SparrowNoblePoland]

Interesting thing, that the Soviet Union produced it's own space shuttle "Buran", not because they needed it for space flights- from the very beginning they considered it as expensive nonsese, but they were afraid that american shuttles will become space strategic bombers, so they build it just in case. They had no money to implement life support system, so instead they installed a computer that controlled the Buran during whole flight and landing. It have surprised it's creators by picking an alternative landing trajectory and touched the landing strip only four meters away from predicted place.

[@howardgilmour8464]

Even more interesting is that it is a carbon copy of the American shuttle! Funny that!

[@user-ps3sg7xi9u]

Howard Gilmour Are you sure Bro? Keep your mind away from this bullsheet..

[@clintonleonard5187]

TeatherFilmLtd Productions why so triggered?

[@vinsoko757]

Howard Gilmour Seriously..go educate yourself. They have big differences..but are based on the lifting body concept. There really is no excuse for your level of ignorance when all the info is easily available.

[@Cessna165]

They are like good racers, they don't go for speed, they go for duration...

[@zaudi700x7]

Russian capsule definition: a BALL

[@trololoev]

can you show us Living module?

[@jshepard152]

A lot of people feel claustrophobic just wearing a pressure suit. With Soyuz, you put on the pressure suit, then slide into this little can, with your knees bent halfway up to your chin. It's the stuff of nightmares.

[@praveenchoudhary9956]

Would some one tell me docking is pre programmed mechanism or it done by astronot manually

[@georgescott5259]

nice work slow down

[@Azim996]

wow... just one question, what is the name of the person who travelled to space the first?

[@aerodynamic1440]

Yuri Gargarin

[@dyanj]

...wait, what's Benjamin Linus doing in that capsule?

[@Houdiniman121]

I love this

[@therad_radhikaramesh]

such a sweet smile

[@hga9088]

Fantastic Review of an fantastic spacecraft. Thanks you Mike Fincke. You did put us on the seat no 2. Finally I know who is the voice of NASA. Fantastic Voice....❤🚀🌐🌎🌍🌏⭐🌑🌙🇷🇺🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇸

[@slashmaster2]

A Soyuz capsule is probably the coziest of all spacecraft isn't it?

[@Anony-Mouse13]

Very interesting tour, thank you! Ok I’d like to come along to the ISS now please 😂 I have exactly zero qualifications 👍

[@Mike-nk1pq]

very cool guy.

[@g.zoltan]

What's the point of the frontal habitat? It's true that it might be more comfortable for the crew than sitting in the lander capsule, but it also means extra mass. I'm sure it is for a reason I don't yet know of.

[@thomasranalli8128]

G.Zoltan It also can function as an airlock and sometimes stores cargo for the station

[@g.zoltan]

So "a box for cargo that you don't want to equip with heavy heatshields". I guess that's describing it from a design point of view. But I've never heard of it functioning as an airlock... That's really interesting. Thank you for replying.

[@thomasranalli8128]

G.Zoltan Of course 😄

[@tiverton]

G.Zoltan The trip to ISS takes about 48 hours. The habitat module allows the crew to move around, eat, sleep and also has a small bathroom. This is where the supplies and cargo is riding to ISS. Nowadays Russians have shortened the insertion to 6 hours, so crew doesn’t have to spend 2 days in a Soyuz anymore. However if things go wrong with launch timing they can revert to 48 hour insertion as well. During return, the habitat module is filled with trash from ISS. This module gets burnt up in atmosphere during reentry.

[@duniamachado4669]

So cool

[@Y10Q]

You can launch that thing at any time of day, any type of weather. In fact they had dozens of launches in the middle of snow blizzard. Again, its cutting edge technology. And space shuttle, even though it looks more like a Star Wars/Trek spacecraft, you needed perfect weather to launch.

[@andykab1]

Because it is necessary more spaces before the cosmonaut at a landing

[@guitarmcf]

The space shuttle program started in 1981, the Soyuz is from 1967...

[@Skrabeks]

Now explain in an animation how the docking system works!

[@definitely_notme4112]

The soyuz accommodates 3 crew, why are there only two seats? How does that work?

[@Fummy007]

One in the middle