Every astronaut launching on a Soyuz has a seat custom-made (source). However, I don't believe astronauts typically return on their original Soyuz, and I know that they don't always. In this case, are seats swapped, or are the seats still generic enough that someone else's seat can be used for return?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
1
-
2$\begingroup$ See this very nice set of photos flickr.com/photos/thom_astro/sets/72157650934017941 I don't believe that someone else's seat would fit. Only if there are twin astronauts. $\endgroup$– UweCommented Jun 3, 2017 at 14:50
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
1
When the crew are going to return on a different Soyuz, they swap the seat liners beforehand.
"One of the first tasks for the Soyuz commanders after arrival was to swap the astronaut’s seat-liners to their new ferry." - http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/iriss/Spacecraft_swap
answered Jun 1, 2017 at 23:38
-
2$\begingroup$ For an ISS crew member carried up on the Shuttle, their long duration mission officially began when their seat liner was carried across the hatch interface. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 1:11