Apr 23 1967
From The Space Library
April 23-24: U.S.S.R. successfully launched Soyuz I spacecraft with Vladimir M. Komarov, but mission ended 26 hrs after launch when spacecraft failed to reenter properly and crash-landed, killing Cosmonaut Komarov. Launched April 23 from Baikonur by a "powerful new carrier rocket," Soyuz I entered initial orbit "close to the estimated one," Tass announced with unprecedented speed, only one hour 20 min after launch. Orbital parameters: apogee, 224 km (139 mi); perigee, 201 km (125 mi); period, 88.1 min; inclination, 51.4°. Onboard equipment was functioning normally" and Komarov was "in good health and feeling well." During the flight Tass distributed only a few terse reports in contrast to extensive publicity usually accorded manned missions. Final announcement, which followed 11-hr silence, said accident occurred during 18th orbit after program of test flight had been completed and spacecraft had been successfully braked with retrorockets for reentry. ". . . when the main parachute was opened at an altitude of seven kilometers [4.3 mi], the lines of the parachute, according to preliminary information, got snarled and the spaceship descended at great speed, which resulted in Komarov's death." Tass did not report whether the cosmonaut had a personal parachute to attempt an escape. Western experts believed Soyuz I was tumbling or spinning out of control during re-entry: when parachutes were deployed, tumbling caused them to tangle among themselves or wrap around spacecraft resulting in crash-landing. Experts said difficulties apparently developed earlier in the flight because Komarov tried to reenter during 15th orbit but was unable to control his spacecraft. Informed sources had speculated that mission involved the launch of a second spacecraft carrying several cosmonauts that would dock with Soyuz I and permit at least one cosmonaut to transfer from second spacecraft to Soyuz I. Tass's official announcement said mission would "test the new piloted spaceship, check the ship's system and elements in conditions of space flight, conduct expanded scientific and physical-technical experiments and studies in conditions of space flight, and continue medical and biological studies on the influence of various factors of space flight on the human organisms." Mstislav V. Keldysh, President of Soviet Academy of Sciences, said on April 26 that Soyuz I spacecraft had been tested previously in two to four unmanned flights. Weight, size, and capacity of new spacecraft were not revealed. Immediately following the accident, which was first known fatality during a space flight, the Kremlin announced it was appointing a Government commission to investigate "all the circumstances" of the cosmonaut's death. Komarov would be cremated and buried in the Kremlin Wall-a final resting place for Soviet heroes-and a monument would be erected on the site of his birthplace in Moscow. (NYT, 4/24/67, 1, 27; 4/25/67,1,20; 4/27/67,2; i8 Post, 4/23/67, AI, A16; 4/24/67, A5; 4/25/67, A1, A16; W Star, 4/23/67, A1)
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