When did the Soviet Union launch Salyut 1 into low Earth orbit?
The Soviet Union launched Salyut 1 into low Earth orbit on the 19th of April 1971. This event marked the beginning of the world's first space station program.
The Soviet Union launched Salyut 1 into low Earth orbit on the 19th of April 1971. This event marked the beginning of the world's first space station program.
Kerim Kerimov managed the entire Salyut programme as chairman of the state commission for Soyuz missions. Construction began in early 1970 and continued until the craft reached Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Recovery teams found all three cosmonauts dead inside the capsule upon landing in Kazakhstan at 23:16:52 UTC on the 29th of June 1971. An investigation revealed that a pressure relief valve malfunctioned during descent causing cabin atmosphere loss which led to fatal asphyxiation since the crew were not wearing pressure suits.
The crew spent 23 days aboard conducting experiments while orbiting Earth 362 times before transferring back to their Soyuz capsule for reentry on the 29th of June 1971.
Grigor Gurzadyan of Byurakan Observatory in Armenia designed the Orion 1 Space Observatory. Viktor Patsayev became the first man to operate a telescope outside Earth's atmosphere using this instrument.