Friday, April 3, 2020

Salyut 2 space station launched 1973

Salyut 2

Salyut 2 patch

Salyut 2, launched April 3, 1973, was a Soviet space station and part of their military program Almaz.  The rocket upon which Salyut 2 was launched entered orbit with the space station, but three days later it exploded.  Debris from the explosion struck Salyut 2 and damaged the hull, causing depressurization.  Solar panels were ripped off, so the space station could not generate power.  It lost attitude control and its orbit decayed.  It re-entered the atmosphere on May 28, without any crews ever visiting it.


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