You might be underestimating how remote some Soviet capsules landed. If they overshot their landing site they might be alone in the wilderness for days until rescue teams arrived

"Kosmonaut survives space mission, gets mauled by bear protecting her cub" is not a great headline. Bringing gun was relatively cheap insurance

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Geezus_42 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Might need something to eat if you have to wait a few days for the rescue team to reach you.

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Someone 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Want, not need. A few days without food is quite survivable for a healthy human. And if you get selected for a space flight, you are healthy.

	▲	TeMPOraL 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That works if you have absolute trust the rescue team will reach you on schedule. If you are unsure whether few days won't turn into few weeks, or whether there will be a rescue team at all, it's best to secure food and shelter while you still have the energy to do it.

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mattmaroon 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Gun and bear solves that problem too.

	▲	cucumber3732842 an hour ago \| parent [-]
		"So the bad news is we're responsible for our next meal, but the good news is Ivan's space food farts will lead the meal right to us"

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TeMPOraL 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

A gun helps with that, too.