Currently, the paper stage of developing technical proposals for funds that can be included in the NAZ is underway, said the executive director of the state Corporation for Manned space Programs
MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. The final decision on the inclusion of weapons in the wearable emergency reserve (NAZ) of astronauts has not been made. This was announced by the Executive director of Roscosmos for manned space programs Sergey Krikalev.
"Since the idea of developing a new device was required, including students of the Military Mechanical Institute took part in the development, other specialists who are familiar with this topic offered different options. But no final decisions have been made yet, " Krikalev said at a press conference dedicated to CLEX-2021.
According to the executive director of Roscosmos, the paper stage of developing technical proposals for funds that can be included in the NAZ in the future is still underway. Weapons can be a signalling device, a means of protection from wild animals.
Krikalev recalled that for many years, the NAZ included a specialized device that looks like a gun. "As Alexey Arkhipovich [Leonov] told us, he personally took part in setting the technical task and designing this pistol," he added.
In September 2019, Roscosmos reported that it would study options for including various signaling devices in the new composition of the NAZ, including rocket launchers. Sergey Pozdnyakov, General Director of the Zvezda NPP, which builds the wearable emergency reserve, told TASS that the state corporation had not made any requests to return firearms to this kit. At the same time, cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko said that the ISS crew members may need weapons that are not in their emergency reserve when returning to Earth.
Currently, the NAZ includes food supplies, camp equipment, radio communication and alarm systems, medicines, heat and wetsuits, and auxiliary equipment, including thread, safety cord, belt, and so on. It is packed with a minimum set of tools, materials, food, and medicines that are necessary for the survival of astronauts in the event of an emergency.