82-476: Soyuz TM-32 was a crewed Soyuz spaceflight which was launched on April 28, 2001, and docked with the International Space Station two days later. It launched the crew of the visiting mission ISS EP-1 , which included the first paying space tourist Dennis Tito , as well as two Russian cosmonauts. The Soyuz TM-32 remained docked to the station until October; during this time it served as
164-667: A "docking sphere" containing a front port and starboard docking port. While the station cores DOS-7 and DOS-8 were built and flown, they never received the Salyut designation. Instead, DOS-7 evolved into the Mir Core Module for the Mir space station that followed the Salyut programme, and DOS-8 was used as the Zvezda Service Module for the International Space Station (ISS) which followed Mir . The heritage from
246-533: A barely angled (seven degrees) conical section to a classic spherical section heat shield. This shape allows a small amount of lift to be generated due to the unequal weight distribution. The nickname was thought up at a time when nearly every headlight was circular. The small dimensions of the descent module led to it having only two-man crews after the death of the Soyuz ;11 crew. The later Soyuz-T spacecraft solved this issue. Internal volume of Soyuz SA
328-499: A booster malfunction occurred. Based on data from R-7 launches over the years, engineers developed a list of the most likely failure modes for the vehicle and could narrow down abort conditions to premature separation of a strap-on booster, low engine thrust, loss of combustion-chamber pressure, or loss of booster guidance. The spacecraft abort system (SAS; Russian : Система Аварийного Спасения , romanized : Sistema Avarijnogo Spaseniya ) could also be manually activated from
410-478: A dummy escape tower and removes the stabilizer fins from the payload shroud. There have been three failed launches of a crewed Soyuz vehicle: Soyuz 18a in 1975, Soyuz T-10a in 1983 and Soyuz MS-10 in October 2018. The 1975 failure was aborted after escape-tower jettison. In 1983, Soyuz T-10a's SAS successfully rescued the cosmonauts from an on-pad fire and explosion of the launch vehicle. Most recently, in 2018,
492-588: A maximum of five docking ports (front, port, starboard, zenith and nadir). And finally, the modules for Mir were derived from the Functional Cargo Block design of the Almaz programme. The name of the Mir space station – Russian : Мир , literally Peace or World – was to signify the intentions of the Soviet Union to bring peace to the world. However, it was during the time of Mir that
574-436: A modified Nudelman aircraft cannon. To operate the cannon, the crew had to maneuver the whole space station in the direction of the target. Sources state that the firing was to deplete the ammunition on the craft. However, others sources say that the station conducted 3 tests of the gun through the whole mission span of Salyut 3. In 1977, another marked step forward was made with the second generation of Salyut stations. The aim
656-464: A revised Igla rendezvous system and new translation/attitude thruster system on the Service module. It could carry a crew of three, now wearing spacesuits. The Soyuz-TM crew transports (M: Russian : модифицированный , romanized : modifitsirovannyi , lit. 'modified') were fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft, and were used from 1986 to 2002 for ferry flights to Mir and
738-415: A second docking port, these two Salyut stations became the first that actually utilised two docking ports: this made it possible for two Soyuz spacecraft to dock at the same time for crew exchange of the station and for Progress spacecraft to resupply the station, allowing for the first time a continuous ("permanent") occupation of space stations. The heritage of the Salyut programme continued to live on in
820-460: A space station engineering test bed. Aim was from early Almaz beginnings to construct long-living multi-modular stations. Salyut 1 (DOS-1) ( Russian : Салют-1 ) was the world's first space station ; it was launched into low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1971. The Salyut program followed this with five more successful launches of seven more stations. The final module of
902-444: A toilet, docking avionics and communications gear. Internal volume is 6 m (210 cu ft), living space is 5 m (180 cu ft). On later Soyuz versions (since Soyuz TM), a small window was introduced, providing the crew with a forward view. A hatch between it and the descent module can be closed so as to isolate it to act as an airlock if needed so that crew members could also exit through its side port (near
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#1732797213041984-524: A two-man craft Soyuz 7K would rendezvous with other components (9K and 11K) in Earth orbit to assemble a lunar excursion vehicle, the components being delivered by the proven R-7 rocket . The crewed Soyuz spacecraft can be classified into design generations. Soyuz 1 through Soyuz 11 (1967–1971) were first-generation vehicles, carrying a crew of up to three without spacesuits and distinguished from those following by their bent solar panels and their use of
1066-550: A variety of astronomical, biological and Earth-resources experiments, and on the other hand, the USSR used this civilian programme as a cover for the highly secretive military Almaz stations, which flew under the Salyut designation. Salyut 1 , the first station in the program, became the world's first crewed space station. Salyut flights broke several spaceflight records , including several mission-duration records, and achieved
1148-662: A week earlier in Soyuz TM-33 . Soyuz (spacecraft) Soyuz (Russian: Союз , IPA: [sɐˈjus] , lit. 'Union') is a series of spacecraft which has been in service since the 1960s, having made more than 140 flights. It was designed for the Soviet space program by the Korolev Design Bureau (now Energia ). The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft and was originally built as part of
1230-419: Is 4 m (140 cu ft); 2.5 m (88 cu ft) is usable for crew (living space). The thermal protection system on the slightly conical side walls is stood off from the structure to also provide micrometeoroid protection in orbit. The slightly curved heat shield on the bottom consists of "21mm to 28mm thick ablator (glass-phenolic composite) which is held by brackets approximately 15mm from
1312-448: Is a part of the reentry module, and the orbital module therefore depressurizes after separation. Reentry firing is usually done on the "dawn" side of the Earth, so that the spacecraft can be seen by recovery helicopters as it descends in the evening twilight, illuminated by the Sun when it is above the shadow of the Earth. The Soyuz craft is designed to come down on land, usually somewhere in
1394-463: Is a sphere – as the pioneering Vostok spacecraft's descent module used – but such a shape can provide no lift, resulting in a purely ballistic reentry . Ballistic reentries are hard on the occupants due to high deceleration and cannot be steered beyond their initial deorbit burn. Thus it was decided to go with the "headlight" shape that the Soyuz uses – a hemispherical upper area joined by
1476-411: Is also the first expendable vehicle to feature a digital control technology. Soyuz-TMA looks identical to a Soyuz-TM spacecraft on the outside, but interior differences allow it to accommodate taller occupants with new adjustable crew couches. The Soyuz TMA-M was an upgrade of the baseline Soyuz-TMA, using a new computer, digital interior displays, updated docking equipment, and the vehicle's total mass
1558-442: Is jettisoned before reentry. The service module, responsible for propulsion and power, is also discarded prior to reentry. For added safety and aerodynamics, the spacecraft is encased within a fairing with a launch escape system during liftoff. The first Soyuz mission, Kosmos 133 , launched unmanned on 28 November 1966. The first crewed Soyuz mission, Soyuz 1 , launched on 23 April 1967 but ended tragically on 24 April 1967 when
1640-428: Is not reusable, a new Soyuz spacecraft must be made for every mission. Soyuz can carry up to three crew members and provide life support for about 30 person-days . A payload fairing protects Soyuz during launch and is jettisoned early in flight. Equipped with an automated docking system, the spacecraft can operate autonomously or under manual control. The Vostok spacecraft used an ejector seat to bail out
1722-439: Is slowed initially by the atmosphere, then by a braking parachute, followed by the main parachute, which slows the craft for landing. At one meter above the ground, solid-fuel braking engines mounted behind the heat shield are fired to give a soft landing. One of the design requirements for the descent module was for it to have the highest possible volumetric efficiency (internal volume divided by hull area). The best shape for this
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#17327972130411804-611: The Comecon ), finally to reach the Soviet Union itself in 1991. While the Russian Federation became the successor to much of the dissolved Soviet Union and was in a position to continue the Soviet space program with the Russian Federal Space Agency , it faced severe difficulties: imports and exports had steeply declined as the economic exchange with Comecon nations had crumbled away, leaving
1886-555: The Igla automatic docking navigation system, which required special radar antennas. This first generation encompassed the original Soyuz 7K-OK and the Soyuz 7K-OKS for docking with the Salyut 1 space station. The probe and drogue docking system permitted internal transfer of cosmonauts from the Soyuz to the station. The Soyuz 7K-L1 was designed to launch a crew from the Earth to circle
1968-412: The International Space Station (ISS). Soyuz TMA (A: Russian : антропометрический , romanized : antropometricheskii , lit. ' anthropometric ') features several changes to accommodate requirements requested by NASA in order to service the International Space Station (ISS), including more latitude in the height and weight of the crew and improved parachute systems. It
2050-652: The International Space Station . Salyut 6 was the first "second generation" space station, representing a major breakthrough in capabilities and operational success. In addition to a new propulsion system and its primary scientific instrument—the BST-1M multispectral telescope—the station had two docking ports, allowing two craft to visit simultaneously. This feature made it possible for humans to remain aboard for several months. Six long-term resident crews were supported by ten short-term visiting crews who typically arrived in newer Soyuz craft and departed in older craft, leaving
2132-698: The Kármán line , the conventional definition of the edge of space. Despite these early tragedies, Soyuz has earned a reputation as one of the safest and most cost-effective human spaceflight vehicles, a legacy built upon its unparalleled operational history. The spacecraft has served as the primary mode of transport for cosmonauts to and from the Salyut space stations , the Mir space station, and International Space Station (ISS). Soyuz spacecraft are composed of three primary sections (from top to bottom, when standing on
2214-536: The Moon , and was the primary hope for a Soviet circumlunar flight. It had several test flights in the Zond program from 1967–1970 ( Zond 4 to Zond 8 ), which produced multiple failures in the 7K-L1's reentry systems. The remaining 7K-L1s were scrapped. The Soyuz 7K-L3 was designed and developed in parallel to the Soyuz 7K-L1, but was also scrapped. Soyuz 1 was plagued with technical issues, and cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov
2296-422: The Salyut programme. The programme was composed of DOS (Durable Orbital Station) civilian stations and OPS (Orbital Piloted Station) military stations: It was realized that the later civilian DOS stations could not only offer a cover story for the military Almaz programme, but could also be finished within one year and at least a year earlier than Almaz. The Salyut programme begun on 15 February 1970 on
2378-543: The Salyut stations paved the way for multimodular space stations such as Mir and the International Space Station (ISS), with each of those stations possessing a Salyut -derived core module at its heart. Mir -2 (DOS-8), the final spacecraft from the Salyut series, became one of the first modules of the ISS. The first module of the ISS, the Russian-made Zarya , relied heavily on technologies developed in
2460-584: The Soviet Union was dissolved in December 1991, ending what was begun with the 1917 October Revolution in Russia. This dissolution had started with the Soviet " perestroika and glasnost " ("restructuring and openness") reform campaigns by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, had reached a preliminary endpoint with the revolutions of 1989 and the end of the communist Eastern Bloc ( Warsaw Pact and
2542-730: The Soviet crewed lunar programs . It is launched atop the similarly named Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan . Following the Soviet Union's dissolution, Roscosmos , the Russian space agency, continued to develop and utilize the Soyuz. Between the Space Shuttle's 2011 retirement and the SpaceX Crew Dragon 's 2020 debut, Soyuz was the sole means of crewed transportation to and from
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2624-630: The 3.5mm thick aluminum AMg-6 substrate. VIM low-density silica fibrous insulation (8mm thick) is contained in the gap between the heat shield ablator and aluminum substrate." At the back of the vehicle is the service module (Russian: прибо́рно-агрега́тный отсе́к , romanized : pribórno-agregátny otsék ). It has a pressurized container shaped like a bulging can (instrumentation compartment, priborniy otsek ) that contains systems for temperature control, electric power supply, long-range radio communications , radio telemetry , and instruments for orientation and control. A non-pressurized part of
2706-598: The Almaz programme is present even today. While the last space station from the Almaz programme was flown as Salyut 5 in 1976, the development of the Almaz TKS spacecraft evolved into the Functional Cargo Block , which formed the basis for several Mir modules, the experimental Polyus orbital weapons platform and the Zarya module of the ISS. DOS-7 continued to be developed during Salyut 7, becoming
2788-529: The DOS station's inception to the launch of the first DOS-based Salyut 1 space station took only 16 months; the world's first space station was launched by the Soviet Union, two years before the American Skylab or the first Almaz/OPS station flew. Initially, the space stations were to be named Zarya , the Russian word for "Dawn". However, as the launch of the first station in the programme was prepared, it
2870-496: The International Space Station, a role it continues to fulfill. The Soyuz design has also influenced other spacecraft, including China's Shenzhou and Russia's Progress cargo vehicle. The Soyuz is a single-use spacecraft composed of three main sections. The descent module is where cosmonauts are seated for launch and reentry. The orbital module provides additional living space and storage during orbit but
2952-545: The Mir Core Module of the Mir space station – the first modular space station, with crewed operations lasting from 1986 to 2000. The station featured upgraded computers and solar arrays, and accommodations for two cosmonauts each having their own cabin. A total of six docking ports were available on the Mir Core Module, which were used for space station modules and visiting spacecraft – the docking sphere design had been upgraded from its initial Salyut design to contain
3034-550: The SAS sub-system in the payload shroud of Soyuz MS-10 successfully rescued the cosmonauts from a rocket failure 2 minutes and 45 seconds after liftoff, after the escape tower had already been jettisoned. The forepart of the spacecraft is the orbital module (Russian: бытовой отсек , romanized: bytovoi otsek ), also known as habitation section. It houses all the equipment that will not be needed for reentry, such as experiments, cameras or cargo. The module also contains
3116-408: The SAS were carried out in 1966–1967. The basic design of the SAS has remained almost unchanged in 50 years of use, and all Soyuz launches carry it. The only modification was in 1972, when the aerodynamic fairing over the SAS motor nozzles was removed for weight-saving reasons, as the redesigned Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft carried extra life-support equipment. The uncrewed Progress resupply ferry has
3198-762: The Soyuz spacecraft. Its maiden flight was in July 2016 with mission Soyuz MS-01 . Major changes include: The uncrewed Progress spacecraft are derived from Soyuz and are used for servicing space stations. While not being direct derivatives of Soyuz, the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft uses Soyuz TM technology sold in 1984 and the Indian Orbital Vehicle follows the same general layout as that pioneered by Soyuz. Salyut programme The Salyut programme ( Russian : Салют , IPA: [sɐˈlʲut] , meaning "salute" or "fireworks")
3280-516: The United States it was seen as a chance to learn from the over 20 years of experience of Soviet space station operations. It was "Phase Two" of this Shuttle–Mir program that would lead to the International Space Station . DOS-8 evolved into the Mir-2 project, intended to replace Mir . Finally, it became the International Space Station (ISS) Zvezda Service Module and formed the core of
3362-563: The United States. Salyut 6 was visited and resupplied by twelve uncrewed Progress spacecraft including Progress 1 , the first instance of the series. Additionally, Salyut 6 was visited by the first instances of the new Soyuz-T spacecraft. The success of Salyut 6 contrasted with the programme's earlier failures and limited successes. The early history of the programme was plagued by the fatalities of Soyuz 11 and three launched stations which quickly failed. Earlier successful stations received few crews, limited to several weeks' habitation by
Soyuz TM-32 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3444-497: The capability of the main parachute and braking engines to provide a safe soft-landing speed. In view of this, the orbital module was separated before the ignition of the return engine until the late 1980s. This guaranteed that the descent module and orbital module would be separated before the descent module was placed in a reentry trajectory. However, after the problematic landing of Soyuz TM-5 in September 1988 this procedure
3526-564: The condition that the crewed lunar programme would not suffer. However, the engineers at OKB-1 perceived the L3 lunar lander effort as a dead-end and immediately switched to working on DOS. In the end it turned out that the Soviet N1 "Moon Shot" rocket never flew successfully, so OKB-1's decision to abandon the lunar programme and derive a DOS space station from existing Soyuz subsystems and an Almaz/OPS hull proved to be right: The actual time from
3608-466: The connection between the service and reentry modules on the latter two flights. The Soyuz uses a method similar to the 1970s-era United States Apollo command and service module to deorbit itself. The spacecraft is turned engine-forward, and the main engine is fired for deorbiting on the far side of Earth ahead of its planned landing site. This requires the least propellant for reentry ; the spacecraft travels on an elliptical Hohmann transfer orbit to
3690-511: The cosmonaut in the event of a low-altitude launch failure, as well as during reentry; however, it would probably have been ineffective in the first 20 seconds after liftoff, when the altitude would be too low for the parachute to deploy. Inspired by the Mercury LES, Soviet designers began work on a similar system in 1962. This included developing a complex sensing system to monitor various launch-vehicle parameters and trigger an abort if
3772-417: The descent module). On the launch pad, the crew enter the spacecraft through this port. This separation also lets the orbital module be customized to the mission with less risk to the life-critical descent module. The convention of orientation in a micro-g environment differs from that of the descent module, as crew members stand or sit with their heads to the docking port. Also the rescue of the crew whilst on
3854-584: The deserts of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. This is in contrast to the early United States crewed spacecraft and the current SpaceX Crew Dragon, which splash down in the ocean. The Soyuz spacecraft has been the subject of continuous evolution since the early 1960s. Thus several different versions, proposals and projects exist. Sergei Korolev initially promoted the Soyuz A-B-V circumlunar complex ( 7K-9K-11K ) concept (also known as L1 ) in which
3936-433: The design life of their Soyuz craft and the presence of a single docking port per station; unsuccessful docking was also common. Salyut 6 on the other hand routinely received successful dockings of crewed and uncrewed craft, although the first visiting craft Soyuz 25 and later Soyuz 33 failed to dock with the station. Salyut 7 ( Russian : Салют-7 ; English: Salute 7 ) (a.k.a. DOS-6, short for Durable Orbital Station )
4018-411: The entry interface point, where atmospheric drag slows it enough to fall out of orbit. Early Soyuz spacecraft would then have the service and orbital modules detach simultaneously from the descent module. As they are connected by tubing and electrical cables to the descent module, this would aid in their separation and avoid having the descent module alter its orientation. Later Soyuz spacecraft detached
4100-401: The facilities in it, including the toilet, following a failed deorbit. The descent module (Russian: Спуска́емый Аппара́т , romanized : spuskáyemy apparát ), also known as a reentry capsule, is used for launch and the journey back to Earth. Half of the descent module is covered by a heat-resistant covering to protect it during reentry ; this half faces forward during reentry. It
4182-601: The first multi-module space station Mir with the Mir Core Module ("DOS-7"), that accumulated 4,592 days of occupancy, and in the International Space Station (ISS) with the Zvezda module ("DOS-8"), that as of 21 August 2012 accumulated 4,310 days of occupancy. Furthermore, the Functional Cargo Block space station modules were derived from the Almaz programme, with the Zarya ISS module being still in operation together with Zvezda . First generation served as
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#17327972130414264-427: The first orbital handover of a space station from one crew to another, and various spacewalk records. The ensuing Soyuz programme was vital for evolving space station technology from a basic, engineering development stage, from single docking port stations to complex, multi-ported, long-term orbital outposts with impressive scientific capabilities, whose technological legacy continues as of 2023 . Experience gained from
4346-439: The ground, but unlike American spacecraft, there was no way for the cosmonauts to trigger it themselves. Since it turned out to be almost impossible to separate the entire payload shroud from the Soyuz service module cleanly, the decision was made to have the shroud split between the service module and descent module during an abort. Four folding stabilizers were added to improve aerodynamic stability during ascent. Two test runs of
4428-514: The industry of the former Soviet Union in shambles. Not only did the political change in eastern Europe signify an end of contributions to the space programme by eastern European nations (such as the East German Carl Zeiss Jena ), but parts of the Soviet space industry were located in the newly independent Ukraine , which was similarly cash-strapped as Russia and started to demand hard currency for its contributions. It
4510-403: The launch pad or with the SAS system is complicated because of the orbital module. Separation of the orbital module is critical for a safe landing; without separation of the orbital module, it is not possible for the crew to survive landing in the descent module. This is because the orbital module would interfere with proper deployment of the descent module's parachutes, and the extra mass exceeds
4592-440: The launch pad): The orbital and service modules are discarded and destroyed upon reentry . This design choice, while seemingly wasteful, reduces the spacecraft's weight by minimizing the amount of heat shielding required. As a result, Soyuz offers more habitable interior space (7.5 cubic metres, 260 cubic feet) compared to its Apollo counterpart (6.3 m , 220 cu ft). While the reentry module does return to Earth, it
4674-408: The lifeboat for the crew of Expedition 2 and later for the crew of Expedition 3 . In October it landed the crew of ISS EP-2 , who had been launched by Soyuz TM-33 . TM-32 carried a three-man crew (two Russians and one American, the latter not a professional astronaut) to the International Space Station, ISS. It docked automatically with the ISS at 07:57 UT on April 30, 2001, just a few hours after
4756-399: The newer craft available to the resident crew as a return vehicle, thereby extending the resident crew's stay past the design life of the Soyuz. Short-term visiting crews routinely included international cosmonauts from Warsaw pact countries participating in the Soviet Union's Intercosmos programme. These cosmonauts were the first spacefarers from countries other than the Soviet Union or
4838-426: The next generation of Salyut stations called for the cores DOS-7 and DOS-8 to allow, for the first time in spaceflight, the addition of several modules to a station core and to create a modular space station. For this, the DOS modules were to be equipped with a total of four docking ports: one docking port at the aft of the station as in the second generation Salyuts, and the replacement of the front docking port with
4920-419: The orbital module before firing the main engine, which saved propellant. Since the Soyuz TM-5 landing issue, the orbital module is once again detached only after the reentry firing, which led to (but did not cause) emergency situations of Soyuz TMA-10 and TMA-11 . The orbital module cannot remain in orbit as an addition to a space station, as the airlock hatch between the orbital and reentry modules
5002-418: The parachute failed to deploy on reentry, killing cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov . The following flight, Soyuz 2 was uncrewed. Soyuz 3 launched on 26 October 1968 and became the program's first successful crewed mission.The program suffered another fatal setback during Soyuz 11 , where cabin depressurization during reentry killed the entire crew. These are the only humans to date who are known to have died above
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#17327972130415084-519: The program, Zvezda (DOS-8) , became the core of the Russian segment of the International Space Station and remains in orbit. Salyut 1 was modified from one of the Almaz airframes, and was made out of five components: a transfer compartment, a main compartment, two auxiliary compartments, and the Orion 1 Space Observatory. DOS-2 was a space station , launched as part of the Salyut programme , which
5166-551: The same time. Furthermore, the uncrewed Progress resupply craft was created based on the crewed Soyuz, to resupply the crew and station with air, air regenerators, water, food, clothing, bedding, mail, propellants, pressurant, and other supplies. While the Progress docked to the station's second docking port, the crew's Soyuz spacecraft could remain docked to the station's first port. The Progress spacecraft even delivered hardware for updating onboard experiments and permitting repairs to
5248-451: The sensors for the orientation system and the solar array, which is oriented towards the Sun by rotating the ship. An incomplete separation between the service and reentry modules led to emergency situations during Soyuz 5 , Soyuz TMA-10 and Soyuz TMA-11 , which led to an incorrect reentry orientation (crew ingress hatch first). The failure of several explosive bolts did not cut
5330-400: The service module (propulsion compartment, agregatniy otsek ) contains the main engine and a liquid-fuelled propulsion system , using N 2 O 4 and UDMH , for maneuvering in orbit and initiating the descent back to Earth . The ship also has a system of low-thrust engines for orientation, attached to the intermediate compartment ( perekhodnoi otsek ). Outside the service module are
5412-418: The solar panels's place. It was developed out of the military Soyuz concepts studied in previous years and was capable of carrying 2 cosmonauts with Sokol space suits (after the Soyuz 11 accident). Several models were planned, but none actually flew in space. These versions were named Soyuz P , Soyuz PPK , Soyuz R , Soyuz 7K-VI , and Soyuz OIS (Orbital Research Station). The Soyuz 7K-T/A9 version
5494-586: The space shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-100 undocked. The launched crew stayed for a week and returned in Soyuz TM-31 , which had been docked to (or nearby) the station since November 2000 functioning as "lifeboat" for the onboard crew ( Expedition 1 and 2 ). As the new lifeboat for Expedition 2 and later Expedition 3 , TM-32 stayed docked at the station for six months (except for a brief move between docking ports) and finally, on October 31, brought home two cosmonauts and an ESA astronaut who had arrived
5576-706: The station, extending its life. Salyut 6 ( Russian : Салют 6 , lit. 'Salute 6') was a Soviet orbital space station , the eighth station of the Salyut programme, and alternatively known DOS-5 as it was the fifth of the Durable Orbital Station series of civilian space stations. It was launched on 29 September 1977 by a Proton rocket . Salyut 6 was the first space station to receive large numbers of crewed and uncrewed spacecraft for human habitation, crew transfer, international participation and resupply, establishing precedents for station life and operations which were enhanced on Mir and
5658-463: The station, of which two would have flown: Kosmos 557 ( Russian : Космос 557 meaning Cosmos 557 ), originally designated DOS-3, was the third space station in the Salyut program . It was originally intended to be launched as Salyut-3, but due to its failure to achieve orbit on May 11, 1973, three days before the launch of Skylab , it was renamed Kosmos-557. Salyut 3 ( Russian : Салют-3 ; English: Salute 3 ; also known as OPS-2 or Almaz 2 )
5740-399: Was 268 to 272 km. Only one of the three intended crews successfully boarded and operated the station, brought by Soyuz 14 ; Soyuz 15 attempted to bring a second crew but failed to dock. Salyut 3 would make history, by conducting the first test-fire of a conventional weapon in space. During Salyut 3’s mission span, cosmonauts would fire the onboard 23mm cannon, which was reported to be
5822-512: Was a Soviet space station launched on 25 June 1974. It was the second Almaz military space station , and the first such station to be launched successfully. It was included in the Salyut program to disguise its true military nature. Due to the military nature of the station, the Soviet Union was reluctant to release information about its design, and about the missions relating to the station. It attained an altitude of 219 to 270 km on launch and NASA reported its final orbital altitude
5904-522: Was a space station in low Earth orbit from April 1982 to February 1991. It was first crewed in May 1982 with two crew via Soyuz T-5 , and last visited in June 1986, by Soyuz T-15 . Various crew and modules were used over its lifetime, including 12 crewed and 15 uncrewed launches in total. Supporting spacecraft included the Soyuz T , Progress , and TKS spacecraft. After the second generation, plans for
5986-460: Was changed, and the orbital module is now separated after the return maneuver. This change was made as the TM-5 crew could not deorbit for 24 hours after they jettisoned their orbital module, which contained their sanitation facilities and the docking collar needed to attach to Mir . The risk of not being able to separate the orbital module is effectively judged to be less than the risk of needing
6068-722: Was during this time of transition and upheaval that the Shuttle–Mir program was established between the Russian Federation and the United States in 1993. The former adversaries would now cooperate, with "Phase One" consisting of joint missions and flights of the United States Space Shuttle to the Mir space station . It was a partnership with stark contrasts – Russia needed an inflow of hard currency to keep their space programme aloft, while in
6150-646: Was killed when the spacecraft crashed during its return to Earth. This was the first in-flight fatality in the history of spaceflight . The next crewed version of the Soyuz was the Soyuz 7K-OKS . It was designed for space station flights and had a docking port that allowed internal transfer between spacecraft. The Soyuz 7K-OKS had two crewed flights, both in 1971. Soyuz 11 , the second flight, depressurized upon reentry, killing its three-man crew. The second generation, called Soyuz Ferry or Soyuz 7K-T , comprised Soyuz 12 through Soyuz 40 (1973–1981). It did not have solar arrays. Two long, skinny antennas were put in
6232-500: Was lost in a launch failure on 29 July 1972, when the failure of the second stage of its Proton-K launch vehicle prevented the station from achieving orbit. It instead fell into the Pacific Ocean. The station, which would have been given the designation Salyut 2 had it reached orbit, was structurally identical to Salyut 1 , as it had been assembled as a backup unit for that station. Four teams of cosmonauts were formed to crew
6314-472: Was managed by Kerim Kerimov , chairman of the state commission for Soyuz missions. A total of nine space stations were launched in the Salyut programme, with six successfully hosting crews and setting some records along the way. However, it was the stations Salyut 6 and Salyut 7 that became the workhorses of the programme. Out of the total of 1,697 days of occupancy that all Salyut crews achieved, Salyut 6 and 7 accounted for 1,499. While Skylab already featured
6396-625: Was realised that this would conflict with the call sign Zarya of the RKA Mission Control Center (TsUP) in Korolyov – therefore the name of the space stations was changed to Salyut shortly before launch of Salyut 1 . Another explanation given is that the name might have offended the Chinese, who purportedly were preparing a new rocket for launch, which they had already named Shuguang or "Dawn". The Salyut programme
6478-480: Was reduced by 70 kilograms. The new version debuted on 7 October 2010 with the launch of Soyuz TMA-01M , carrying the ISS Expedition 25 crew. The Soyuz TMA-08M mission set a new record for the fastest crewed docking with a space station. The mission used a new six-hour rendezvous, faster than the previous Soyuz launches, which had, since 1986, taken two days. Soyuz MS is the final planned upgrade of
6560-406: Was the first space station programme, undertaken by the Soviet Union . It involved a series of four crewed scientific research space stations and two crewed military reconnaissance space stations over a period of 15 years, from 1971 to 1986. Two other Salyut launches failed. In one respect, Salyut had the space-race task of carrying out long-term research into the problems of living in space and
6642-516: Was to continuously occupy a space station with long-duration expeditions, for the first time in spaceflight. Although Salyut 6 and Salyut 7 resembled the previous Salyut stations in overall design, several revolutionary changes were made to the stations and programme for the aim of continuous occupation. The new stations featured a longer design life and a second docking port at the aft of the stations – crew exchanges and station "handovers" were now made possible by docking two crewed Soyuz spacecraft at
6724-752: Was used for the flights to the military Almaz space station. Soyuz 7K-TM was the spacecraft used in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975, which saw the first and only docking of a Soyuz spacecraft with an Apollo command and service module . It was also flown in 1976 for the Earth-science mission, Soyuz 22 . Soyuz 7K-TM served as a technological bridge to the third generation. The third generation Soyuz-T (T: Russian : транспортный , romanized : transportnyi , lit. 'transport') spacecraft (1976–1986) featured solar panels again, allowing longer missions,
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