At the end of the sixties – the beginning of the seventies of the last century, the Center for the Training of Cosmonauts named after Yu.A. Gagarina initiated the development of a new generation centrifuge project.
The implementation of the Grand Plan began in November 1970, when the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted the appropriate decision. Based on this document, a contract was concluded with the Swedish company ASEA, the French companies “ATM” and “Sintra”, the tasks of which included development, manufacturing, supply, package montage, adjustment and testing of the TF-18 tank centrifuge. At that time, domestic enterprises would not be easy to fulfill the terms of contact for the reasons of a technological nature, and Western partners had the necessary experience and opportunities. But the building for a new centrifuge was erected by Russian construction organizations, completing work in August 1974.
The installation process, adjustment and equipment testing was walking throughout the five years with the direct participation of CPC specialists. Then there was a turn of acceptance procedures, and on September 24, 1981, a new centrifuge was commissioned. The CF-18 may create overload in the range from 1 to 30 g with the orientation of the overload vector in any given direction with adjustment in a wide range of temperature, pressure, humidity and gas composition inside the cab.
Since the beginning of using a unique simulator, it was selected and preparation of hundreds of people, among which not only Russian astronauts, but also their foreign colleagues. There are dozens of research and experiments.
Part of the equipment and systems of the CF-18 were deeply modernized, with the result that it is one of the most high-tech simulators in the class of centrifugal machines for physiological research and training of astronauts to the space flight. Since 2002, it has a manual managed descent of the TPK “Union” with static and dynamic cosmonauts workplaces.
The centrifuge building is also upgraded, including part of the equipment and systems providing the operation of the CF. Work offices have become more comfortable and more comfortable. The Round Hall of the CF-18, a fully automated technological platform, an updated cerebral center – a pulp centrifuge looks bright and modern. The premises became lighter and brighter.
For 40 years of operation, the CF-18 has been gained 1761 hours on overloads up to 30 units inclusive. 14,188 rotations were performed on the centrifuge associated with the selection of applicants, medical examination and training of astronauts to space flights, including on the simulator of a manual managed descent TS-18.
Life cycle of one of the significant technical means of the Center for Training of Cosmonauts named after Yu.A. Gagarin continues.