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.

Soyuz 12 launched 1973

Soyuz 12, launched September 27, 1973, was intended to help improve safety for cosmonauts, in light of the tragedy of Soyuz 11.  Its crew consisted of Commander Vasili Lazarev and Flight Engineer Oleg Makarov.  They wore spacesuits which limited the crew to only two, instead of three.

The original plans were for Soyuz 12 to dock with Salyut 2, but the space station failed.  Lazarev and Makarov stayed in space for 2 days before returning to Earth.