Salyut 2

Infobox Space station
station = Salyut 2 (OPS-1)
station_

station_image_size =
station_image_caption = OPS-1 Almaz station assembling
extra_

extra_image_size =
extra_image_caption =
insignia = Salyut insignia.jpg
insignia_size = 160px
insignia_caption =
sign = Salyut 2
crew = 3
launch = April 4, 1973 09:00:00 UTC
launch_pad = Baikonur Cosmodrome, USSR
reentry = May 28, 1973
mass = 18,500 kg
length = 14.55 m
width = 4.15 m
height =
volume = 99 m³
pressure =
perigee = 257 km (138.8 nmi)
apogee = 278 km (150.1 nmi)
inclination = 51.6 degrees
altitude =
speed =
period = 89.8 minutes
orbits_day =
in_orbit = 54 days
occupied = 0 days
orbits = 866
distance = 35,163,530 km (18,986,787.3 nmi)
NSSDC_ID = 1973-017A
as_of = April 4, 1973
stats_ref =
configuration_

configuration_size =
configuration_caption =

Salyut 2 (OPS-1)( _ru. Салют-2; _en. Salute 2) was launched April 4, 1973. It was not really a part of the same program as the other Salyut space stations, instead being the highly classified prototype military space station Almaz. It was given the designation Salyut 2 to conceal its true nature. Despite its successful launch, within two days the as-yet-unmanned Salyut 2 began losing pressure and its flight control failed; the cause of the failure was likely due to shrapnel piercing the station when the discarded Proton rocket upper stage that had placed it in orbit later exploded nearby. On April 11, 1973, 11 days after launch, an unexplainable accident caused the two large solar panels to be torn loose from the space station cutting off all power to the space station. Salyut 2 re-entered on May 28, 1973.

pecifications

*Length - 14.55 m
*Maximum diameter - 4.15 m
*Habitable volume - 90 m³
*Weight at launch - 18,900 kg
*Launch vehicle - Proton (three-stage)
*Number of solar arrays - 2
*Resupply carriers - Soyuz Ferry
*Number of docking ports - 1
*Total manned missions - 0
*Total long-duration manned missions - 0
*Number of main engines - 2
*Main engine thrust (each) - 400 kgf (3.9 kN)

Visiting spacecraft and crews

*None

ee also

*Salyut
*TKS spacecraft
*Almaz
*Mir
*Skylab
*International Space Station

References

*http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1973-017A
* [http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19870012563_1987012563.pdf Soviet Space Stations as Analogs - NASA report (PDF format)]