It was called 1 space station. What is an orbital station? What types of orbital space stations are there? Work at the station
(OS) - a spacecraft designed for long-term stay of people in low-Earth orbit for the purpose of carrying out scientific research in conditions of outer space, reconnaissance, observations of the surface and atmosphere of the planet, astronomical observations...
An orbital station differs from artificial Earth satellites availability of crew, which is periodically replaced by transport manned ships (including reusable ones), delivering crew changes, fuel supplies and materials for operation to the OS technical systems station, crew life support equipment, personal correspondence, spare parts for the repair and modernization of the station itself, equipment units to expand its functions, materials for conducting new research, etc. The descent vehicle of the transport ship delivers replaced crew members and the results of the research and observations.
Creating an orbital station is a very complex and expensive structure, so so far only the USSR/Russia, USA, Europe/ESA, Japan and China have developed them. At the same time, Russia and the USA had full-fledged orbital stations (Salyut, Almaz, Mir in the USSR and Skylab in the USA), and Europe and Japan had modules of an international orbital station. At the beginning of the 21st century, all these, as well as other countries, created and operate the International Space Station (ISS). China launched the first Tiangong OS in 2011. Iran and private companies also have plans to create an OS.
History of the first orbital station "Salyut"
The first Salyut orbital station, designed for long-term flights in orbit around the Earth, was launched on April 19, 1971. A powerful Proton rocket launched it into orbit at an altitude of 200 to 222 kilometers above the Earth.
After the separation of the last stage of the rocket, the protective covers were dropped, the antennas pressed to the body were released, and the solar panels were spread out to the right and left. The orbital block began to look like a proudly soaring giant bird. His wings began to catch the sun's rays and turn them into electric current. He ran along countless wires and brought the station to life. The engines began to rustle, the instruments woke up, and radio communication with the Earth began to work.
The orbital block is a solid structure! It's bigger than a trolleybus! Length – about 16 meters, diameter – 4 meters, weight – about 19 tons. It flies in automatic mode. On April 23, the Soyuz-10 transport spacecraft is launched into space, on board of which commander V. A. Shatalov, flight engineer A. S. Eliseev and test engineer N. N. Rukavishnikov. A day later they successfully dock with the orbital block, check the reliability of the docking, try to control the orbital block from the ship - everything is fine. They separate and return safely to Earth on April 25.
The orbital block is ready to receive its main crew. On June 5, 1971, the Soyuz-11 transport spacecraft was launched: commander G. T. Dobrovolsky, flight engineer V. N. Volkov and test engineer V. I. Patsaev. On June 7, the ship docks with the orbital block - now the Salyut orbital station is finally assembled, because the orbital block was only part of it. The second part is the Soyuz transport ship. The entire structure is twenty-three meters long and already weighs more than twenty-five tons.
The astronauts move into the orbital block, but do not close the hatch behind them - this is their new big home.
At first, its narrowest part is the transition compartment, only two meters in diameter. Through the hatch, the astronauts swim into the working compartment - it is more spacious, although there is a lot of different equipment around. Everything has been thought out for the life of astronauts: a table for eating, a “treadmill” for exercising, expanders...
The most complex equipment: orientation and motion control system (allows you to deploy the station and keep it in the desired position; by accelerating or slowing down, you can change the orbit); a set of life support means are various devices that create normal living conditions for astronauts; radio complex for radio communication with the Earth. Communication is very different: telephone, television. It is possible to automatically transmit recordings of results to Earth scientific works. If necessary, the station can be controlled from Earth by radio; power supply system - all station equipment operates using electricity, which is provided mainly by solar panels. Along the way, they charge the batteries, due to which the station operates at night when there is no sun.
Work at the station
Work at the station began on June 7, 1971. The cosmonauts accelerate the Salyut a little faster and raise it to a higher orbit - from 239 to 265 kilometers and begin scientific work.
Stars are photographed using a special Orion telescope. They observe and photograph the Earth - clouds, oceans, continents. They carefully monitor their health. They diligently look after the experimental vegetable garden. The seeds of Khibiny cabbage and flax were planted and sprouted there. They keep diaries, recording in them both the details of their life and scientific observations.
The crew worked on the Salyut for 23 days. On June 29, they transfer all scientific materials to the Soyuz-11 spacecraft; on June 30, they move there themselves, close the hatch behind them, separate from the orbital block and go to land. All three in in a great mood. But the unexpected happens: even before entering the atmosphere, thirty minutes before landing, an accident occurs. The tightness of the cabin in which the astronauts are located is broken. Through the resulting gap, air begins to rapidly flow out... A soft automatic landing of the Soyuz-11 spacecraft was made, but the cosmonauts died...
After the tragedy, the empty Salyut orbital block flies in space for another three and a half months, gradually losing altitude. On November 11, 1971, it enters the dense layers of the earth's atmosphere and burns up over the Pacific Ocean.
The scientific materials of the expedition were important for science, and the experience of the astronauts (24 days) proved that a person can live and work for a long time in conditions of weightlessness.
The Salyut station was the world's first long-term orbital scientific station.
On June 25, 1974, the Salyut-3 station was launched in the USSR. Then there will be Salyut-4, Salyut-5... This was a series of manned single-module orbital stations of the USSR, they operated until 1999. Under common name "Firework" orbital stations were launched into orbit according to the civil program"Long-term orbital station" (LOS), and according to the military program - “Almaz”.
"Skylab"
"Skylab"(lit. celestial laboratory) - first and only national American single-module orbital station designed for technological, astrophysical, medical and biological research, as well as for Earth observation. Launched on May 14, 1973, hosted three Apollo missions from May 1973 to February 1974, de-orbited and collapsed on July 11, 1979.
In terms of their parameters, the Skylab stations exceeded the characteristics of the Soviet orbital stations of the Salyut and Almaz series. The American station was the first where crews worked multiple times, and the first where there were two docking ports (although the second one was not used).
"SkyLab" had a huge internal volume, providing almost unlimited freedom of movement, for example, you could easily jump from wall to wall during gymnastics classes. The astronauts found the living conditions at the station very comfortable: in particular, there was a shower installed there. Each astronaut had a small separate compartment-cabin - a niche with a closing curtain, where there was a sleeping place and a drawer for personal belongings.
There is a lot of scientific equipment here. For example, a very large telescope moved outside to the side. It consists of eight different telescopes connected in one bundle and aimed in one direction. To power all the mechanisms of this very complex instrument, it has its own solar panels. They are arranged in a cross and therefore make Skylab look like a helicopter.
Tiangong-1
China's first orbital station-class spacecraft, referred to as target module and designed for testing technologies for rendezvous and docking of spacecraft. Tiangong-1 should become the first non-Soviet and non-American free-flying manned orbital station, smaller in size, but similar in function to the first-generation Soviet orbital stations Salyut and Almaz.
Station parameters:
- Weight - 8506 kg;
- Length - 10.4 meters;
- Width (solar panels) - 17 meters;
- The residential volume of the station is 15 cubic meters.
The tasks of Tiangong-1 are to test the process of docking with ships of the Shenzhou series, ensure normal life, work and safety of astronauts during a short stay on board (from 12 to 20 days), experiments in the field of space medicine, in the field of use of outer space , as well as tests technical equipment space station.
Multi-module stations
"World"
"World"- Soviet/Russian third-generation orbital station, a complex multi-purpose research complex. Its full name: Orbital near-Earth manned long-term multi-purpose international station “Mir”. This huge structure, resembling a wheel on an axle, slowly turns, bathed in the rays of the Sun. He looks very smart! Not a single empty space. Everywhere there are hatches, windows, protruding observation booths, instruments built into the walls, antennas, locator bowls, handrails, spotlights, solar panels, docking units, attitude control nozzles, tubes with wires and hundreds and thousands more of all sorts of sophisticated and very beautiful things. details. She was launched into orbit in February 1986 and sank in the Pacific Ocean on March 23, 2001. Over the course of 10 years, the modules were docked one after another. Since 1995, foreign crews began to visit the station - 15 visiting expeditions visited the station, 14 of them were international, with the participation of cosmonauts from Syria, Bulgaria, Afghanistan, France (5 times), Japan, Great Britain, Austria, Germany (2 times), Slovakia, Canada.
As part of the Mir-Shuttle program, seven short-term visiting expeditions were carried out using the Atlantis spacecraft, one using the Endeavor spacecraft and one using the Discovery spacecraft, during which 44 astronauts visited the station.
In the late 1990s, problems began at the station due to the constant failure of various instruments and systems. After some time, the Russian government, citing the high cost of further operation, despite numerous projects to save the station, decided to sink the Mir. On March 23, 2001, the station, which had operated three times longer than initially set, was flooded in a special area in the South Pacific Ocean, near the Fiji Islands.
In total, 104 cosmonauts from 12 countries worked at the station.
Design
The picture shows the blocks of the Mir station. The modular principle of constructing an orbital complex is implemented here; experience with it is now being used for the development of the International Space Station. All modules, except the docking module, were delivered by the Proton launch vehicle.
Base unit
Reminiscent of the Salyut series orbital station. Inside there is a wardroom, two individual cabins, a sealed work compartment with a central control station and communications equipment. There is a portable airlock chamber in the wall of the housing. Externally there are 3 solar panels. Has six docking ports for connection with cargo ships and scientific modules. Docked in February 1986
Module "Quantum"
The astrophysical module carried a set of instruments for observing cosmic X-ray sources. Kvant also made it possible to conduct biotechnological experiments in the field of antiviral drugs and fractions. Docked April 1987
Module "Kvant-2"
Retrofit module for additional comfort of astronauts. Carried equipment necessary for the life support of the station. On the outside there were two rotating solar panels. Docked December 1989
Module "Crystal"
Docking and technological module with scientific equipment for various purposes. Docked July 1990
Module "Spectrum"
Docked in June 1995. Geophysical module. With its help, the atmosphere, ocean, and earth's surface were monitored, and medical and biological research was carried out.
Docking module
Docked in November 1995. This module carried the Atlantis shuttle to enable shuttle docking with the Mir station.
Module "Nature"
Docked in April 1996. He carried equipment for observing the earth's surface at different wavelengths, as well as for studying human behavior during long-term space flight.
International Space Station (ISS)
It is a manned orbital station used as a multi-purpose space research facility. ISS - joint international project, in which 15 countries participate (in alphabetical order): Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, USA, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan.
The ISS is controlled by the Russian segment from the Space Flight Control Center in Korolev, and by the American segment from the Mission Control Center in Houston. There is a daily exchange of information between the Centers.
During the implementation of the Mir-Shuttle program, the idea of unifying national programs for the creation of orbital stations was born.
In March 1993 CEO RSA Yuri Koptev and general designer of NPO Energia Yuri Semyonov proposed to NASA head Daniel Goldin to create the International Space Station. A positive decision was not given immediately; there was opposition from the American public, but in 1996 the station’s configuration was nevertheless approved. It consists of two segments - Russian (a modernized version of Mir-2) and American (with the participation of Canada, Japan, Italy, member countries of the European Space Agency and Brazil).
In November 1998, Russia launched the first element of the ISS - the Zarya functional cargo block. In December 1998, the Endeavor shuttle docked the American Unity module to the Zarya module. In June 2000, the Zvezda service module was docked to the Zarya functional cargo block. In November 2000, the manned transport spacecraft Soyuz TM-31 delivered the crew of the first main expedition to the ISS. In February 2001, during the mission, the crew of the shuttle Atlantis attached the American scientific module Destiny to the Unity module. In November 2007, construction of the main American segment of the ISS was completed. In May 2010, the construction of the Russian segment was completed.
After the completion of flights of reusable shuttle-type spacecraft in 2011, the United States was left without its own manned spacecraft and does not have independent access to the ISS.
But on May 22, 2012, the Falcon 9 launch vehicle with the private space cargo ship Dragon was launched from the Cape Canaveral launch site - the first ever test flight of a private spacecraft to the International Space Station.
On May 25, 2012, the Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS.
Design
The station design is based on a modular principle. The ISS is assembled by sequentially adding another module or block to the complex, which is connected to the one already delivered into orbit. The location of the modules relative to each other often changes.
The only source electrical energy for the ISS is the Sun, the light of which is converted by the station's solar panels into electricity.
Objectives of the ISS
One of the main goals when creating the ISS was the ability to conduct experiments at the station that require unique space flight conditions: microgravity, vacuum, cosmic radiation not weakened by the earth’s atmosphere. Major areas of research include biology (including biomedical research and biotechnology), physics (including fluid physics, materials science and quantum physics), astronomy, cosmology and meteorology. Research is carried out using scientific equipment, mainly located in specialized scientific modules-laboratories; some of the equipment for experiments requiring vacuum is fixed outside the station, outside its hermetic volume.
ISS perspective
Significant modernization of the Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft is planned in 2012-2013.
The American commercial spacecraft Cygnus is scheduled to launch in February 2013 to deliver cargo to the ISS.
In July 2013, the Russian 25-ton multifunctional laboratory module Nauka is scheduled to dock with the ISS. It will take the place of the Pirs module, which will be undocked and flooded. Among other things, the new Russian module will completely take over the functions of Pirs.
“NEM-1” (scientific and energy module) - the first module, delivery is planned in 2014;
"NEM-2" (scientific and energy module) - the second module, delivery is planned in 2015.
UM (nodal module) for the Russian segment - with additional docking nodes. Delivery is planned for 2014.
The first orbital station in the world that was successfully launched into Earth orbit was the Salyut-1 station. It is also the first manned space station in the world.
The rapid development of the space industry in the USSR eventually led to the idea of creating the world's first space station. Such a station, according to the projects of Soviet scientists, was supposed to be a research platform that would open up the possibility of constant and higher-quality space exploration at that time. In addition, such a spacecraft was also supposed to perform the functions of a transport ship and a military facility.
To launch and launch such a spacecraft, a powerful and high-tech carrier was needed. According to Soviet scientists and designers, such a carrier could be the heavy Proton rocket, created in the 60s of the last century.
It should be noted that the creation of the first international space station was actively announced by scientists and government representatives in the United States. These were the years of the so-called Space Race, when two superpowers competed scientifically with each other. According to many experts, the “space race” was part of the “arms race” that broke out between the USA and the USSR against the backdrop of the Cold War.
The development and creation of the Salyut 1 space station was carried out by the design bureaus of Chelomey and Korolev, two outstanding people in the history of world cosmonautics. The creation of the station was completed in the winter of 1971.
Launch and construction of the first space station of the USSR
The world's first space station, Salyut 1, was launched into Earth orbit on April 19, 1971. The launch and delivery to the required altitude of the device was ensured using a heavy Proton K launch vehicle.
This was a station used by a crew of three. On board the station, conditions were recreated as close as possible to those on Earth. The Salyut 1 station was equipped in the most modern way at that time. It consisted of several parts, namely the working compartment, which was a metal, hermetically sealed cylinder.
There were various areas where the crew of the manned space station could rest, store and eat food. The larger edema was equipped with special showers for astronauts, a space toilet, as well as special exercise equipment that allowed astronauts to engage in sports exercises to maintain normal physical shape while constantly being in weightlessness.
In addition, on board the Soviet orbital station there was a special research complex that allowed cosmonauts to conduct all kinds of research and experiments, as well as obtain important information about the processes that occur in outer space.
Expeditions to the Salyut 1 space station
In total, two expeditions were carried out to the Salyut 1 station. The first of them, having received Soyuz 10, was able to safely reach the spacecraft, but due to technical problems that arose, the cosmonauts were unable to complete the docking process and enter the station. The team later successfully returned to Earth.
Spaceship crew"Union - 10 "
The second expedition, called Soyuz 11, was a team of three cosmonaut scientists: Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsaev. They successfully docked with the station and stayed on board for twenty-two days. But when returning to earth, a tragedy occurred; due to depressurization of the descent module, the entire crew died.
After 175 days spent in Earth orbit, the Salyut 1 station was successfully deorbited. Part of the space orbital station burned up in various layers of the atmosphere, and the other part fell into the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The development and construction of the world's first spacecraft designed for long-term stay of people in Earth's orbit is entirely the merit of Soviet designers.
Purpose of the orbital station
This device was equipped with a variety of instruments with the help of which research could be carried out in extraterrestrial space, observations of the atmosphere and surface of the Earth, and astronomical observations. (OS) provided enormous opportunities, and it was a real breakthrough.
The orbital station and Earth had much in common. However, there was a crew at the orbital station, which was periodically replaced with the help of manned transport ships (including reusable ones). These same ships delivered to the OS fuel and materials for the operation of systems, spare parts for modernization and repair of the station, food supplies, hygiene items and letters for crew members, materials for new scientific research, etc. The transport ships raced back with a change of crew and the results of the observations and research carried out.
The Salyut-1 station was created in the Soviet Union under a special program of civil manned orbital stations (DOS). In the documents you can see the code name of this station - No. 121 or “Product 17K”. The Salyut-1 station was launched into orbit on April 19, 1971.
History of the Salyut-1 station
In February 1971, the orbital station was transported to. On April 19, with the help of a launch vehicle, it took place in the earth's orbit and, after 175 days, completed its work on October 11, 1971.
Orbital station "Salyut-1"
The first expedition (V. Shatalov, A. Eliseev and N. Rukavishnikov), sent on the Soyuz-10 spacecraft, ended unsuccessfully. On April 24, 1971, the Soyuz-10 manned spacecraft docked with the station. However, the ship’s docking unit turned out to be faulty, and, despite the efforts of the team, in particular V. Shatalov, who tried to eliminate the problem using the main engine, the ship flew for 5 and a half hours “coupled” with the station, after which it undocked and landed.
The second expedition on the Soyuz-11 spacecraft ended quite disastrously. The crew consisting of G. Dobrovolsky, V. Volkov and V. Patsaev on June 7 at 10 o’clock in the morning successfully docked Soyuz-11 with Salyut-1 and over the next 22 days completed all tasks according to the flight program. On June 30, the undocking was completed and the ship began to leave orbit. Unfortunately, the descent module, having entered the earth's atmosphere, depressurized. None of the crew survived.
On October 11, the orbital station was removed from earth orbit. Most of it burned up in the atmosphere, and the debris fell into the waves of the Pacific Ocean.
On April 19, 1971, the world's first manned orbital station was launched into Earth orbit. This station was built under the DOS program, that is, “Long-term orbital stations.” It was built through the efforts of Soviet designers, who made our country one of the leaders in world cosmonautics. The creation of orbital stations of this type became the most important stage in the development of Soviet cosmonautics.
History of the creation of the Salyut - 1 station
The decision to create an orbital station of the DOS type was made in 1969. In 1970, in December, the first base unit of the station was manufactured at the Khrunichev plant, after which it was transferred for testing. They were successful, and on April 19, 1971, the Salyut-1 orbital station was launched into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It took its place in orbit and completed its work after 175 days. During its operation, two expeditions were sent to the station, which, unfortunately, were unsuccessful. The first, Soyuz-10, was unable to board the station due to damage to the ship’s docking unit; the second, Soyuz-11, was able to board the station, but died during descent. Salyut 1 was removed from earth orbit on October 11, 1971.
Design Features
The main feature of the Salyut-1 station was that preparations for its launch were carried out at two enterprises at once - NPO Energia and the Salyut Design Bureau. In addition, the production of equipment for the orbital station was also organized at two factories. These were the ZIKh plants - the Kalinin Machine-Building Plant in Yekaterinburg and the ZEM - Experimental Engineering Plant. At the same time, there was a clear division of labor. The Energia enterprise was engaged in the design and development of almost all the main systems of the orbital station. And the Salyut design bureau developed design drawings. There was also division in the work of factories. The Kalinin plant manufactured hermetic housings and main structural elements; moreover, the general assembly of the station took place here. And at the experimental plant, all the systems that were to be equipped with the Salyut-1 station were being manufactured. The station was equipped with the latest scientific equipment, which weighed a total of about 1.5 tons. It included a solar telescope, an infrared and an X-ray telescope, a device that made it possible to magnify the image 60 times and a large number of other modern and unique equipment for that time.
To create these devices in an extremely short time (no more than 11 months), the efforts of several research centers were required, including the FIAN (Physical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences), the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory and the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. The Minister of Mechanical Engineering S.A. Afanasyev took an active interest in the project and supported it. Interestingly, the general designer of the Design Bureau, Chelomey, was against the creation of the station. In 1972, V. N. Chelomey and another chief designer V.P. Mishin even sent the Central Committee of the CPSU a letter in which they proposed to stop the development of stations of the Salyut program. Of course, this attitude towards the project significantly hampered its development. However, a number of ministries and departments of the Soviet Union supported Salyut. At the first orbital station, experimental installations were even installed: thermal regulation, life support and others. The launch took place in April 1971.
Main tasks of the Salyut-1 station
Since the apparatus was equipped with many instruments, it was assumed that with its help active cognitive and research activities. The tasks that were planned for the crew included conducting research on the growth of plants in outer space, as well as observing changes in outer space.
Since the crew on the ship could change, it was believed that research results could be obtained immediately after the change of crew members. Transport ships were supposed to deliver materials for experiments, food for astronauts, and even letters addressed to members of the scientific space group to the station. Also, according to the forecasts of designer Feoktistov K.P., work at the station was supposed to help in solving earthly problems, such as predicting crop yields or exploring mineral deposits.
In secret protocols, the station was referred to as “Product 17K”. The Salyut-1 station was supposed to be a scientific breakthrough for the Soviet Union and lead the country to the usual “Ahead of the rest.” In addition, the designers involved in the development of this station were given a serious task - the station had to be as durable as possible. In addition, work was also underway in the United States to create manned orbital stations, and the leadership of the USSR decided to launch this large-scale operation in our country in as soon as possible. But in our case, the device was supposed to be used for research work, while in the United States, manned stations were assigned the role of military facilities.
First expedition to Salyut 1
The participants of the first expedition included cosmonauts A. Eliseev, N. Rukavishnikov and V. Shatalov. All of them, before leaving for the station, underwent training, which included simulating emergency situations that could occur at the orbital station. The crew went to Salyut-1 on the Soyuz-10 spacecraft. The docking took place on April 24, 1971, the connection went well, but other problems arose. The docking unit installed at the orbital station turned out to be faulty and the crew members simply could not board Salyut-1. The ship's commander, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov, tried to fix the problem, but his attempts were unsuccessful. The Soyuz-10 spacecraft flew for more than five hours while docked with the Salyut-1 orbital station, after which the crew decided to undock. Landing was made.
This first unsuccessful experience allowed us to discover a number of errors, which were eliminated in the future.
The tragedy of the Second Expedition
The second expedition began on July 6, 1971. The crew included experienced cosmonauts V. Volkov, V. Patsaev and G. Dobrovolsky. On June 7 at ten in the morning the Soyuz-11 rocket was successfully docked with the Salyut-1 orbital station. The crew was able to safely board the station and remained on it for 22 days. During this working time, the team members carried out all the required research and completed all the tasks that were assigned to the expedition. In particular, the astronauts conducted research into the effect of weightlessness on plant development. These experiments were to become the basis for starting to grow plants on space stations, which would make it possible to obtain oxygen and food. After carrying out all the necessary research, it was decided to undocking with the Salyut-1 station.
The tragedy occurred at the moment when the spacecraft began to descend and its braking engines fired. During the separation of the Soyuz-11 rocket, a valve unexpectedly opened on it to equalize the pressure. As a result of the opening of the valve, all the air that was contained in the spacecraft flowed out into the vacuum of outer space. The device made a normal landing, and a special parachute opened. But when the search team arrived and the hatch of the vehicle was opened, it turned out that all the crew members were dead. They suffocated as they flew towards the Earth. This incident reminded humanity that the dangers that exist when going into outer space are still relevant and cannot be completely resolved, no matter how high-tech the equipment is.
175 days after being put into orbit, the first manned orbital station, Salyut-1, was decommissioned. The control center gave the command to activate the braking engines and the station safely entered the atmosphere. The Salyut-1 station now rests on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Soviet orbital space station "Salyut-1" became the first in the world so-called. "long-term orbital station"(DOS), unlike early manned orbital stations (POS), had a gateway for docking a cargo spacecraft, and thus gained autonomy and virtually unlimited technical specifications period of stay in orbit.
Construction of the long-term orbital station "Salyut-1"
Technically, the Salyut-1 orbital station consisted of three compartments: two sealed (transition and working) and an unpressurized unit.
Transition compartment of the Salyut-1 station
In the transition compartment there was a gateway for docking the spacecraft and a hatch for transition to the working compartment of the station. Here, in the transition compartment, the station's control panel, elements of life support and thermal control systems, internal blocks of the Orion star telescope, the Anna-III gamma telescope, a Cherenkov-scintillation telescope for studying charged particle flows, cameras, and blocks for biological experiments were located.
On the outside of the transition compartment there were solar panels, external blocks of the Orion telescope, antennas, and orientation system sensors.
Working compartment of the Salyut-1 station
The working compartment of Salyut-1 consisted of two cylinders connected by a conical part. The working compartment contained control panels for on-board systems, astronaut seats, 15 windows, scientific equipment, television and film cameras, radio equipment, control systems for the on-board complex, power supply, orientation and motion control, and telemetry.
The work compartment also housed a number of specialized work stations intended for scientific research, food and water supplies, and a “treadmill” for training astronauts.
Outside the working compartment, radiator panels for the thermal control system, antennas for communication and radio telemetry systems were installed.
Aggregate compartment and power plant Salyut-1 station
In the “tail” part of the Salyut-1 station, a modified assembly compartment of the Soyuz spacecraft was installed, designed to accommodate fuel tanks and onboard engines.
The main source of energy for Salyut-1 was solar panels with a total area of 42 square meters. On the first Salyut, four solar panels were mounted: 2 on the outer surface of the transition compartment and two on the outer surface of the aggregate compartment.
In addition, after the transport ship docks with the station, their power supply systems are combined, and the spacecraft's solar panels also supply power to the station's grid.
Crews and research work of the Salyut-1 space station
First crew (“Soyuz-10”: V.A.Shatalov, A.S. Eliseev, N.N. Rukavishnikov) launched to the Salyut-1 space station April 23, 1971 The launch was scheduled for a day earlier, but it had to be postponed due to an emergency situation: after the announcement of five-minute readiness, one of the masts did not move away from the rocket, although the command for its departure was issued. At the moment of launch, the mast could fall on its own, such cases have happened, but it could not move away and puncture the shell of the rocket. They decided not to risk the lives of the crew, and the astronauts were evacuated from the ship.
The next day, the launch took place safely, the ship entered orbit and a day later approached the station. It would seem that the docking went smoothly: the clutch locks worked, tightening occurred, and then a rigid coupling of the Soyuz with the Salyut occurred.
But telemetry showed that the docking point was leaky, and the hatch could not be opened. The Earth decided to undock and return. There were also problems with undocking: it was successful only on the third attempt.
The next crew was to begin work on the Salyut ( Alexey Leonov, Valery Kubasov, Petr Kolodin). But three days before the launch, during a pre-flight medical examination, Kubasov was diagnosed with darkening in his lungs. The State Commission suspended Kubasov from the flight, and along with him the entire crew. The third crew consisting of Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsaev(Soyuz-11 crew).
June 6, 1971 Soyuz-11 entered orbit, successfully docked with the station, the crew and began work on board. For about three days, the cosmonauts were engaged in reactivating the station, setting up and preparing scientific equipment for operation.
The cosmonauts carefully checked all the systems and assemblies of the station, conducted experiments on manual control of the complex, autonomous navigation, orbit adjustment, and manual orientation of solar panels. A wide-angle sight designed for precise orientation to the Sun and planets was tested for the first time on board the Salyut.
Using the gamma-ray telescope, the astronauts measured the intensity, angular distribution, spectrum and other characteristics of primary cosmic radiation, and using Orion they studied the spectral composition of the radiation of some stars.
Studies were also carried out on geological and geographical objects of the earth's surface, atmospheric formations, snow and ice cover. The astronauts took a large number of small-scale (to record short-term and seasonal phenomena) and medium-scale (to obtain detailed characteristics of the structure of the relief and natural landscapes) photographs of the Earth. A set of important medical and biological studies was also carried out, in particular, the effect of long-term weightlessness on the human body was studied, special load suits were tested, and the radiation background around the station was measured.
Completion of the Salyut-1 space station
Having fully completed the flight program, upon returning to Earth the crew of the first long-term orbital station died as a result of depressurization of the descent module.
After determining the cause of the death of the cosmonauts, a meeting of the State Commission was held, at which it was decided to temporarily stop flights and modify the Soyuz spacecraft. The cosmonauts had to make further flights only in spacesuits, and therefore the Soyuz crew was reduced to two people. Taking this into account, cosmonaut-researchers P. Kolodin and A. Voronov were withdrawn from the second and fourth crews preparing for flights on the OS.
The Salyut station no longer accepted astronauts on board. While modifications were being made to the spacecraft, Salyut flew in automatic mode.
