Soyuz 7K-T Credit - © Mark Wade

Version of 7K-T for flights to Almaz. Known difference with the basic 7K-T included systems for remote control of the Almaz station and a revised parachute system. May have incorporated equipment designed for the Soyuz 7K-TK, which had been intended for docking with Almaz in 1966-1970.

Crew Size: 2. Design Life: 3 days. Orbital Storage: 110 days. Typical orbit: 235 km circular orbit, 51.5 deg inclination. Length: 7.48 m (24.54 ft). Maximum Diameter: 2.72 m (8.92 ft). Habitable Volume: 11.00 m3. Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Main Engine: KTDU-35. Main Engine Thrust: 4.089 kN (919 lbf). Main Engine Propellants: Nitric Acid/Hydrazine. Main Engine Propellants: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Main Engine Isp: 282 sec. Spacecraft delta v: 210 m/s (680 ft/sec). Electrical System: Batteries. Electric System: 0.84 average kW. Associated Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511, Soyuz 11A511U.

• 1974 May 27 - Cosmos 656 - Program: Almaz. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,675 kg (14,715 lb). Perigee: 195 km (121 mi). Apogee: 364 km (226 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 90.00 min. Duration: 2.01 days.

  Unmanned test flight of the Soyuz 7K-T(A9) Soyuz variant designed for docking with the military Almaz space station. Recovered May 29, 1974 7:50 GMT.

• 1974 July 3 - Soyuz 14 - Program: Almaz. Crew: Artyukhin, Popovich. Flight: Soyuz 14. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Perigee: 195 km (121 mi). Apogee: 217 km (134 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.60 min. Duration: 15.73 days.

  On 4 July Soyuz 14 docked with the Salyut 3 space station after 15 revolutions of the earth. The planned experimental program included manned military reconnaissance of the earth's surface, assessing the fundamental value of such observations, and some supplemental medico-biological research. After the crew's return research continued in the development of the on-board systems and the principles of remote control of such a station.

• 1974 August 26 - Soyuz 15 - Program: Almaz. Crew: Demin, Sarafanov. Flight: Soyuz 15. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,760 kg (14,900 lb). Perigee: 173 km (107 mi). Apogee: 236 km (146 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.50 min. Duration: 2.01 days.

  Soyuz 15 was to conduct the second phase of manned operations aboard the Salyut 3 military space station, but the Igla rendezvous system failed and no docking was made. The two day flight could only be characterised as '... research in manoeuvring and docking with the OPS in various modes, and development of methods for evacuation and landing from space complex in new conditions....'

  As Chelomei had complained, Soyuz had no reserves or backup systems for repeated manual docking attempts and had to be recovered after a two-day flight. The state commission found that the Igla docking system of the Soyuz needed serious modification. This could not be completed before Salyut 3 decayed. Therefore the planned Soyuz 16 spacecraft became excess to the program (it was later flown as Soyuz 20 to a civilian Salyut station, even though over its two year rated storage life).

  Officially: Conduct of joint experiments with the Salyut-3 orbital scientific station.

• 1975 November 17 - Soyuz 20 - Program: Salyut. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,700 kg (14,700 lb). Perigee: 184 km (114 mi). Apogee: 251 km (155 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.80 min. Duration: 90.49 days.

  Unmanned long duration test of the Soyuz transport vehicle; docked with Salyut 4. Recovered February 16, 1976 2:24 GMT. Comprehensive checking of improved on-board systems of the space craft under various flight conditions. Carried a biological payload. Living organisms were exposed to three months in space.

• 1976 July 6 - Soyuz 21 - Program: Almaz. Crew: Volynov, Zholobov. Flight: Soyuz 21. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Perigee: 246 km (152 mi). Apogee: 274 km (170 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 89.70 min. Duration: 49.27 days.

  Soyuz 21 with Volynov and Zholobov aboard hard-docked with the station on 6 July 1976 after failure of the Igla system at the last stage of rendezvous. Towards the end of the two month mission an early return to earth was requested due to the poor condition of flight engineer Zholobov (who was suffering from space sickness and psychological problems).

• 1976 October 14 - Soyuz 23 - Program: Almaz. Crew: Rozhdestvensky, Zudov. Flight: Soyuz 23. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,760 kg (14,900 lb). Perigee: 239 km (148 mi). Apogee: 269 km (167 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 89.50 min. Duration: 2.00 days.

  The Soyuz 23 ferry spacecraft suffered a docking system failure. Sensors indicated an incorrect lateral velocity, causing unnecessary firing of the thrusters during rendezvous. The automatic system was turned off, but no fuel remained for a manual docking by the crew.

• 1977 February 7 - Soyuz 24 - Program: Almaz. Crew: Glazkov, Gorbatko. Flight: Soyuz 24. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Perigee: 226 km (140 mi). Apogee: 264 km (164 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 89.30 min. Duration: 17.73 days.

  Soyuz 24 docked with Salyut 5 and brought repair equipment and equipment for a change of cabin atmosphere. This special apparatus was designed to allow the entire station to be vented through the EVA airlock. Because of this the planned EVA was cancelled. However analysis after arrival showed no toxins in the air. The crew changed the cabin air anyway, then returned to earth. The mission, although a short 18 days, was characterised as a busy and successful mission, accomplishing nearly as much as the earlier Soyuz 21's 50 day mission.

• 1978 June 27 - Soyuz 30 - Program: Salyut 6. Crew: Hermaszewski, Klimuk. Flight: Salyut 6 EP-3, Salyut 6 EO-2. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Apogee: 244 km (151 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.80 min. Duration: 7.92 days.

  Manned two crew. Docked with Salyut 6. Placed on board the Salyut-6 station, under the Intercosmos programme, a second, international, crew consisting of P.I. Klimuk (USSR) and M. Hermaszewski (Poland) to conduct scientific investigations and experiments.