Salyut Type Stations

Salyut Type Stations

The seven Salyut (named as a "salute" to Yuri Gagarin) stations and Skylab (US) were the first space craft designed as space stations, orbiting the earth for extended periods. The early Salyut stations could not be resupplied or refueled, so they did not have long life expectancy.

The Salyut stations fall into two different categories: The Salyut program (civilian) which encompassed Salyut 1, 4, 6, and 7; Those of the Almaz (military) program which emcompassed Salyut 2, 3 and 5.

The Almaz stations, also referred to as Orbital Piloted Stations, had superior photo equipment, targeting equipment, and an anti-satellite cannon.

Salyut 1 was in orbit from 19 April 1971 until 11 October 1971. While Soyuz 10 did dock with Salyut 1, the cosmonauts did not enter. The Soyuz 11 cosmonauts inhabited it from 7-29 June 1971.

Salyut 2 (OPS-1) was launched 3 April 1973. About a week later, a severe tumbling problem developed, and the craft broke up into about 25 trackable pieces. They entered the atmosphere on 28 May 1973. It was an Almaz type (military).

Salyut 3 (OPS-2) orbited from 24 June (25 June in Moscow), 1974 until 24 January 1975. It was occupied only by the Soyuz 14 cosmonauts. Soyuz 15 was unable to successfully dock with Salyut 3. Like Salyut 2, Salyut 3 was an Almaz type.

Salyut 4 was in orbit from 26 December 1974 to 2 February 1977. It was inhabited by 2 cosmonaut crews, Soyuz 17 (11 January - 9 February 1975) and Soyuz 18 (25 May - 26 July 1975). Soyuz 20, an unmanned craft, also docked from 19 November 1975 until 16 February 1976.

Salyut 5 (OPS-3) orbited 22 June 1976 to 8 August 1977. It was inhabited by Soyuz 21 cosmonauts from 7 July to 24 August 1976. Soyuz 23 was unable to dock on 15 October 1976, however the Soyuz 24 crew was able to occupy the station from 8-25 February 1977. Salyut 5 was an Almaz type station, similar to Salyut 2 and Salyut 3.

Salyut 6 was in orbit from 29 September 1977 to 29 July 1982. It was a second generation platform, similar to Salyut 1 and Salyut 4, but had two docking ports, one on either end. This permitted the docking of unmanned Progress type craft and extend the operational lifetime of Salyut 6. Salyut 6 marked the first use of the unmanned Progress supply craft, and the new Soyuz-T ferry craft. The operational schedule was changed to have a resident team occupy the craft for an extended period, while secondary crews would arrive and disembark. These secondary crews were the first to include "guest cosmonauts" from outside the Soviet Union.

Salyut 6 Missions:
Soyuz 25, aborted
Soyuz 26, PE-1
Soyuz 27, VE-1
Soyuz 28, VE-2 (First international)
Soyuz 29, PE-2
Soyuz 30, VE-3 (Second international)
Soyuz 31, VE-4 (Third international)
Soyuz 32, PE-3
Soyuz 33, VE-5 (Fourth international)
Soyuz 34, launched unmanned
Soyuz-T 1, unmanned
Soyuz 35, PE-4
Soyuz 36, VE-6 (Fifth international)
Soyuz-T 2, VE-7
Soyuz 37, VE-8 (Sixth international)
Soyuz 38, VE-9 (Seventh international)
Soyuz-T 3, Maintenance
Soyuz-T 4, PE-5
Soyuz 39, VE-10 (Eighth international)
Soyuz 40, VE-11 (Ninth international)

Salyut 7 entered orbit on 19 April 1982, and remained there until 7 February 1991. It was similar to Salyut 6. Salyut 7 modifications included the installation of electric stoves, a refrigerator, constant hot water, and two portholes designed to allow ultraviolet light to enter (to help kill infections). A total of ten Soyuz-T crews visited Salyut 7.

Salyut 7 Missions:
Soyuz-T 5, PE-1
Soyuz-T 6, VE-1 (Tenth international)
Soyuz-T 7, VE-2
Soyuz-T 8, aborted
Soyuz-T 9, PE-2
Soyuz-T10-1, aborted
Soyuz-T 10, PE-3
Soyuz-T 11, VE-3 (Eleventh international)
Soyuz-T 12, VE-4
Soyuz-T 13, PE-4
Soyuz-T 14, PE-5
Soyuz-T 15, PE-6

*NOTE: PE designates "Principal Expedition"; VE designates "Visiting Expedition"