Vatra telvision complex for Salyut orbital space station

Early spacecraft had one-way TV systems but increased information and astronaut psychological support needs in long flights, including contacts with friends and relations on the ground, led to the development of the two way Vatra system for Salyut-6 spacecraft. The system was improved during three long Salyut-6 expeditions, and the forth trip utilized a variant with an optical telecamera adaptor for observing the dark side of the Earth as well as stars and galaxies in the infrared range. The design objectives are compactness, reliability and minimal energy consumption and mass. Silicon solar batteries are the energy source supplying around 0.7 W per square decimeter of illuminated surface. Spacecraft voltage goes from 34 to 23 V when it passes into the unilluminated zone. The complex consists of a switch unit, portable videorecorder, TV camera, monitor (with 23 cm diagonal picture tube), and acoustic system and a TV transmitter and receiver. The complex can take images and display, transmit and receive either live or on tape. It has been repeatedly tested and found adequate.