Chapter 1: The Presence of Weapons in Space

From the inception of human space exploration, astronauts have embarked on their missions equipped with firearms. While this fact wasn't heavily publicized, it was never kept under wraps either.

The inclusion of firearms aboard spacecraft may seem unnecessary, given the many risks associated with space travel. However, the likelihood of needing a weapon in space is exceedingly low. So, what justifies the presence of firearms for astronauts?

The primary reason is that these weapons were a component of the WES (Wearable Emergency Supply) for every astronaut. Accurately predicting a spacecraft's landing zone is a challenge, and during the early days of space exploration, this was even more uncertain. When astronauts landed in remote areas, they sometimes faced prolonged waits for rescue, lasting hours or even days.

The WES was designed to enable astronauts to communicate their landing location and provide essential supplies for survival until help arrived.

Soviet astronauts, for instance, had in their survival kits items such as a Makarov pistol, machete, medical supplies, a portable radio, dry rations, and ropes.

There have been instances where astronauts had to utilize their weapons post-landing. For example, cosmonauts A. Leonov and P. Belyaev found themselves stranded far from their intended landing site and had to wait several days for rescuers. During that time, they encountered wildlife, including bears and wolves, prompting them to fire warning shots to deter the animals.

As the WES evolved, its contents were updated. The Makarov pistol was eventually replaced by the TP-82, a versatile tool functioning as a shotgun, flare gun, and machete.

The TP-82 was a unique sawed-off shotgun equipped with a flare gun and a machete integrated into the stock. By 2006, the TP-82 was retired due to the cessation of cartridge production in the late 1990s, making way for standard semiautomatic pistols in the WES.

This video delves into why astronauts are equipped with firearms and the rationale behind this practice.

Chapter 2: Firing Weapons in Space

In this video, discover whether anyone has ever discharged a firearm in the vacuum of space, and learn about the various weapons designed for astronauts.

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