The Soviet radio beacon “KOMAR,” which means “mosquito” in Russian, helps rescuers locate cosmonauts after landing. The name of the radio transmitter reflects the signal emitted by the beacon when activated. The orange inflatable cone is visible from a long distance once the beacon’s coordinates are determined by radio radar. Such radio beacons were used by early Soviet spacecraft cosmonauts to facilitate recovery if they landed far from the expected area.

The beacon features a unique design; its body is relatively heavy, while the orange cone is inflated with pressurized air contained in a special balloon. When the balloon’s trigger is pulled by a cosmonaut, the air inflates the orange cone, which then stands vertically. The antenna is housed within the cone, ensuring it remains in the optimal position for transmitting radio signals.