Soyuz 21
Spacecraft · Russia
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Aft view of the Almaz, showing the airlock, ringed by propellant tanks. The KSI capsule ejection airlock juts out below the main docking hatch. A red plastic cover is seen over the engine bell of one of the two RD-0225 main engines. The downlink antenna of the Grafit communications system is on the lower left.
Credit: © Mark Wade
Military space station mission. Hand-docked with the Salyut 5 station after failure of automated Igla system. Crew member became psychotic and mission was returned to earth from space station early. Toxic gases in station were suspected.
Soyuz 21 with Volynov and Zholobov aboard hard-docked with the Salyut 5 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). The crew landed in very bad physical and mental condition 200 km SW of Kokchetav on August 25, 1976 at 18:33 GMT. It was determined that they had become emotional, not followed their physical training, and developed an unreasonable desire to return to earth. The possibility also existed that there were toxic gases in the station.
More at: Soyuz 21.
Related
- Family
- Manned spaceflight
- Country
- Russia
- Spacecraft
- Soyuz 7K-T/A9
- Launch Sites
- Baikonur
- Agency
- MOM
Chronology
2 events
1976 July 6
12:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511.- Soyuz 21 - .
Call Sign: Baikal (Baikal - lake in Siberia). Crew: Volynov,
Zholobov.
Backup Crew: Rozhdestvensky,
Zudov.
Support Crew: Berezovoi,
Glazkov,
Gorbatko,
Lisun.
Payload: Soyuz 7K-T(A9) s/n 41. Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Nation: Russia.
Agency: MOM.
Program: Almaz.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz 21.
Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz.
Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-T/A9.
Duration: 49.27 days. Decay Date: 1976-08-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 8934 . COSPAR: 1976-064A. Apogee: 274 km (170 mi). Perigee: 246 km (152 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 89.70 min.
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 August 24
- Landing of Soyuz 21 - .
Return Crew: Volynov,
Zholobov.
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Volynov,
Zholobov.
Program: Almaz.
Flight: Soyuz 21.
The crew landed in very bad physical and mental condition 200 km SW of Kokchetav at 18:33 GMT. It was determined that they had become emotional, not followed their physical training, and developed an unreasonable desire to return to earth. The possibility also existed that there were toxic gases in the station.