Have you ever wondered why Soviet cosmonauts carried shotguns into space? It sounds strange, right? Well, the TP-82 pistol was specially designed for them, but it wasn’t just any ordinary pistol. It worked more like a small shotgun and was meant to protect cosmonauts from wild animals when they landed back on Earth.
Unlike American astronauts who landed in the Pacific Ocean, Soviet cosmonauts often landed in remote and wild places like the Siberian wilderness. This meant they could encounter dangerous animals like wolves or bears. The idea for the TP-82 came about in 1965 when cosmonaut Alexey Leonov had a close call. During the Voskhod 2 mission, he landed far from his planned spot due to a problem with his capsule. He was stuck in the snowy western Urals, 600 miles away from where he was supposed to be. All he had for protection was a small Makarov PM 9-millimeter pistol, which he felt wasn’t enough to defend against big animals.
After Leonov’s experience, the need for a better weapon became clear. By 1981, the TP-82 was approved and manufactured by the Tula Arms Factory. This unique gun had three barrels and was operated manually. It had two smoothbore barrels for 32-gauge shotgun shells, which could also fire flares and birdshot. The third barrel was rifled and used 5.45x39mm ammunition. It even had a removable buttstock that could double as a machete! The whole thing weighed about 2.4 kilograms (5.3 pounds) with the stock attached.
The TP-82 was first given to the crew of the Soyuz T-6 mission in June 1982. From 1986 to 2007, it was a regular part of the survival kit for cosmonauts and Air Force crews. However, they stopped using it after the original ammunition stocks expired.
If you love learning about history, you might want to check out the Simple History channel on YouTube. They have a new feature where you can become a sponsor to help them create more awesome content. Sponsoring isn’t required, but it helps them make longer and more detailed episodes. Plus, you get cool perks like an Enlisted Badge, early access to episodes, and the chance to influence future content.
Remember, this feature is still being tested, so there might be some bugs. But don’t worry, even if you don’t sponsor, you’ll still get to enjoy all their videos as usual!
Imagine you’re a cosmonaut landing in a remote area. Design your own survival kit. What items would you include to ensure your safety and survival? Think about the challenges you might face and how each item could help you overcome them.
Research another unique tool or piece of equipment used in space missions. Prepare a short presentation to share with the class, explaining its purpose and how it helps astronauts or cosmonauts in their missions.
Participate in a debate about whether modern astronauts should carry similar protective equipment when landing on Earth. Take on roles as different stakeholders, such as a cosmonaut, a scientist, or a wildlife expert, and present your arguments.
Design a mission patch for a space mission that includes the TP-82. Think about the mission’s goals, the challenges faced, and how the TP-82 plays a role. Share your design and explain its symbolism to the class.
Write a short story about a cosmonaut’s unexpected landing in a remote area. Include how they use the TP-82 and other survival skills to overcome challenges. Share your story with a partner and discuss the creative solutions your character used.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
**Why did cosmonauts take shotguns into space?**
The TP-82 pistol was designed for Soviet cosmonauts to protect themselves from wildlife when they landed back on Earth. Although it was called a pistol, it functioned more like a sawed-off shotgun. This weapon was capable of taking down wolves or bears. Cosmonauts often landed in remote areas, such as the Siberian wilderness, unlike American astronauts who landed in the Pacific Ocean, which provided a cushioning effect.
The idea for the TP-82 originated in 1965 when cosmonaut Alexey Leonov, during the Voskhod 2 mission, voiced his concerns after becoming stranded in the snowy western Urals, 600 miles from his planned landing site due to a capsule malfunction. He only had a Makarov PM 9-millimeter pistol in his survival kit for protection, which he believed was insufficient to defend against a bear or wolf if he encountered one. Fortunately, he did not face such a situation, but the concern remained.
Approval for the weapon came later, in 1981, with several designs submitted for review. The TP-82 was selected and manufactured by the Tula Arms Factory. This triple-barreled gun was manually operated and featured a break-open mechanism. The top two smoothbore barrels were chambered for 32-gauge shotgun shells, including flare and birdshot variations, while the bottom rifled barrel fired 5.45x39mm ammunition. The TP-82 had a single trigger and two exposed hammers, and it included a removable buttstock that could be used as a machete. The overall weight with the stock attached was 2.4 kilograms (5.3 pounds).
It was first issued to the crew of the Soyuz T-6 mission in June 1982 and was routinely carried by cosmonauts and Air Force crews from 1986 until 2007 when the original stocks of ammunition expired.
**Subscribe for more history videos!**
—
**Hey there, Simple History fans!**
Simple History has been chosen by YouTube to test a new sponsor feature that enhances your experience on the channel. Remember, it’s not mandatory to sponsor us, and videos will continue to be uploaded as usual. This new feature enables us to grow the Simple History Channel and gives you a greater role in it.
Researching, writing scripts, and animating Simple History episodes is a busy process, and we appreciate all the support we can get to keep the channel strong. We also want to create more elaborate, longer episodes with exciting content.
You can help us achieve this by becoming a sponsor, which will provide you with new perks on the channel. Here are the perks you’ll gain:
– **Enlisted Badge:** Show everyone that you’re a Simple History sponsor with a unique custom badge that appears alongside your username in comments and live chat.
– **Early Access:** Get early access to episodes days or even weeks before anyone else.
– **Influencer:** If you want to have a greater influence on the show, you can discuss future episode ideas with us and provide feedback without your comments getting buried.
Please note that this feature is still in beta, so there may be bugs. The prices are fixed until it goes live, and remember, sponsoring is not mandatory; videos will continue to be uploaded as usual.
—
Feel free to let me know if you need any further modifications!
Cosmonauts – Russian astronauts who are trained to travel and work in space. – Yuri Gagarin was one of the first cosmonauts to orbit the Earth.
Shotguns – Firearms designed to shoot a spread of small projectiles, often used for hunting and sport. – In the early 20th century, shotguns were commonly used by explorers for hunting in the wilderness.
Protection – Measures taken to guard against harm or danger. – Ancient civilizations built walls around their cities for protection against invaders.
Animals – Living organisms that are not plants, fungi, or microorganisms, often studied in biology. – Scientists study animals to understand their behavior and role in the ecosystem.
Wilderness – Natural areas that are largely undisturbed by human activity. – Early explorers faced many challenges when navigating the vast wilderness of North America.
Mission – A specific task or duty assigned to a person or group, often with a significant goal. – The Apollo 11 mission successfully landed the first humans on the Moon in 1969.
Weapon – An instrument or device used for attack or defense in combat or hunting. – Throughout history, the development of new weapons has often changed the course of wars.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about history helps us understand how past societies have shaped the modern world.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse beyond Earth’s atmosphere where celestial bodies exist. – The exploration of space has led to many scientific discoveries about our universe.
Ammunition – Materials fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon, including bullets and shells. – During the American Civil War, soldiers had to carefully manage their ammunition supplies.
