Salyut 1

Key facts

Science

Mission

Salyut 1 was the world's first space station, launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1971 — a single pressurised module that opened the era of long-duration human spaceflight. Its first visiting crew, aboard Soyuz 10, could not establish a firm dock and returned without boarding. The second crew — Soyuz 11's Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev — lived aboard for 23 days in June 1971, setting an endurance record and carrying out the first sustained programme of scientific work in orbit. Their triumph ended in tragedy: during re-entry a valve opened prematurely and their Soyuz capsule depressurised, killing all three — to this day the only humans to have died in space itself. The loss grounded the Soyuz programme for redesign, and the short-lived station was commanded to a destructive re-entry over the Pacific on 11 October 1971. Salyut 1 proved both the promise and the peril of a permanent human presence in orbit.

1. 1971The first space station reaches orbitLaunch

   The Soviet Union launches Salyut 1, the world's first space station.

2. 1971Soyuz 10 cannot boardMilestone

   The first crew docks but cannot achieve a firm seal and returns without entering.

3. 1971Soyuz 11 crew moves inMilestone

   Dobrovolsky, Volkov and Patsayev board and live aboard for 23 days, setting an endurance record.

4. 1971The Soyuz 11 tragedyMilestone

   The returning crew's capsule depressurises during re-entry; all three die — the only deaths in space to date.

5. 1971Re-entryMission end

   With its programme grounded for a Soyuz redesign, Salyut 1 is commanded to burn up over the Pacific.

Images

Images from open archives · credit shown per image