Jun 6 1971
From The Space Library
June 6-30: Soyuz 11- carrying Cosmonauts Georgy T. Dobrovolsky, Vladislav N. Volkov, and Viktor I. Patsayev - was launched by U.S.S.R. from Baikonur at 9:55 am local time (12:55 am EDT) to join Salyut I "orbital scientific station" (launched April 19). After manned flight record of almost 24 days in space, mission ended in tragedy June 30 when the three cosmonauts were found dead in returned spacecraft. Orbital parameters for Soyuz 11 were apogee, 237 km (147.3 mi) perigee, 163 km (101.3 mi) ; period, 88.4 min; and inclination, 51.5°. Spacecraft docked with Salyut 1 at 10:45 am Moscow time (3:45 am EDT) June 7. Tass announcement said: "In accordance with the Soviet programme of creating long-term orbital stations, the `Salyut' orbital scientific station has started to function as the first piloted scientific station. . .. After successfully docking the Soyuz 11 transport spaceship with the scientific station .. . the crew of Soyuz 11 entered the scientific station. Solved for the first time was the engineering and technical task of delivering a crew to an orbiting scientific station by a transport ship." Tass said Salyut- Soyuz space system was 20 m (66 ft) long, weighed more than 25 tons, and consisted of compartments containing equipment for scientific and technical experiments, for spacecraft control, and for crew work and rest. Cosmonauts would check out spacecraft subsystems; test orientation and navigation equipment; study geological-geographical objects on earth's surface, atmospheric formations, and snow and ice cover; study physical characteristics, processes, and phenomena in atmosphere and outer space; and study medico-biological influence of space flight factors on human organism. Cosmonauts checked out systems, conducted experiments, and sent messages of thanks to scientists, engineers, and workers who took part in creation of space station system. TV transmissions showed crew performing duties in spacecraft. After one week in orbit, crew was in good health and had completed first phase of experiments with all systems functioning normally. Crew was allowed one-day rest before continuing experiments. By 1:00 pm Moscow time (6:00 am EDT) June 13 Salyut-Soyuz station had completed 100 orbits of earth. Cosmonauts continued to follow preplanned program of work, rest, and two hours of exercise per day and reported they were in good health. Experiments included communications with ground via orbiting Molniya I comsat, astronomical observations, medical experiments, observation of cyclone in Pacific near Japan, and experiments with plants in hothouse on board. They reared tadpoles into frogs and grew cabbages and onions. By 12:00 noon Moscow time (5:00 am EDT) June 22 station had completed 245 orbits of earth. Station completed 18th day in orbit June 24, surpassing 17-day 17-hr endurance record set by Soyuz 9 June 2-19, 1970. On June 29 cosmonauts completed flight program and prepared for reentry. Crew transferred equipment to Soyuz 11 and undocked from Salyut 1 at 9:28 pm Moscow time (2:28 pm EDT). Crew reported successful undocking and said all systems were functioning normally. At 1:35 am Moscow time June 30 (6:35 pm EDT June 29) spacecraft's braking engine was fired for prescheduled period. At end of engine firing communication with Soyuz 11 crew ceased. Tass said: "According to the program, after aerodynamic braking in the atmosphere the parachute system was put into action and before landing-the soft-landing engines were fired. The flight of the descending apparatus ended in a smooth landing in the pre-set area. Landing simultaneously with the ship, a helicopter-borne recovery group, upon opening the hatch, found the crew in their seats, without any signs of life. The causes of the crew's death are being investigated." (GSFC SSR, 6/30/71; FBIS-Sov-71-109-126, 6/7-30/71; Newsweek, 7/12/71)
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