What is this?

[Whirligig Girl]

It's on the soyuz spacecraft. I don't know what purpose it serves, and I feel like I really need to, so i can accuratley draw it without having to perfect the proportions. Knowing what an object is helps me to figure out what it should be, and how to shade it in different scenarios, etc.

It's outlined in red.

Original

[TheCanadianVendingMachine]

It's a clue! *Music*

No, but seriously I think its a strap for decoupling.

[astropapi1]

It's a clue! *Music*

Made me smile.

[Spaceisbeautifulul]

That must be...

Mmmmfffshmmmmuhhhhhduuurrrrdeedummmmm

I dunno.

MEANWHILE, here's a nice picture of a Sozuz on...

the final countdown! (to launch)

Edited June 15, 2013 by Spaceisbeautifulul

[Whirligig Girl]

Yeah, nice popculture referenses, you peoples. It appears to be a pipe, so i don't think it's a decoupler strap. What would be the point of that, anyway?

[Spaceisbeautifulul]

To jettison the fairing?

[Voidryder]

Well I'm sure BobCat could tell us, but I believe it is an umbilical package for carrying power from the service module to the orbital capsule.

[rodion_herrera]

Well I'm sure BobCat could tell us, but I believe it is an umbilical package for carrying power from the service module to the orbital capsule.

Beat me to it. Yep, it's the Soyuz equivalent of that "bulge" by the side/aft of the Apollo Command Module, right next to the heat shield, which connects the CM to the service module (because you can't have the umbilicals passing THROUGH the CM's heat shield, of course).

[Nibb31]

It's an umbilical that carries power, data, and consumables between the orbital module and the service module. It's designed like this so that there are no hatches in the descent module heatshield or on the side.

[Henri von Braun]

And BTW, I think the little green thingy is a periscope. Right?

[Kryten]

And BTW, I think the little green thingy is a periscope. Right?

It's part of the Kurs automated docking system. Basically it point itself at a small cross near the docking hatch, and the craft adjusts itself so the cross stays on-centre.