Salyut 7
Salyut 7 — the last Salyut. In 1985 two cosmonauts revived it after it froze and tumbled dead in orbit, one of spaceflight's great rescues (1982-1991).
Key facts
Science
Mission
- Operator
- NPO Energia (USSR)
- Launched
- April 19, 1982
- Status
- Completed
Mission
Salyut 7, launched on 19 April 1982, was the last of the Salyut stations and a bridge to the modular Mir. In 1984 it saw Svetlana Savitskaya become the first woman to walk in space. But it is best remembered for one of the great rescues in spaceflight history. In early 1985, while uncrewed, the station suffered a power failure and fell silent, drifting dead and slowly tumbling, its systems frozen solid. Rather than abandon it, the Soviets sent Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Viktor Savinykh to save it. With the station unpowered and not broadcasting, they flew a manual approach and docked by eye with the inert, rotating hulk — a feat never attempted before. Inside they found a frozen, lifeless station, its walls coated in ice; working in fur-lined suits, they warmed it back to life over days as the thawing ice ran down the walls, restored power and returned Salyut 7 to service. The station operated until 1986, was mothballed, and finally made an uncontrolled re-entry over Argentina in February 1991. Its rescue remains a landmark demonstration of human improvisation in orbit.
- 1982The last Salyut launchesLaunch
Salyut 7 reaches orbit as the final station of the Salyut line and a bridge to modular Mir.
- 1984First woman to walk in spaceSpacewalk / EVA
Svetlana Savitskaya performs an EVA outside Salyut 7, the first spacewalk by a woman.
- 1985The station falls silentMilestone
While uncrewed, a power failure leaves Salyut 7 dead and slowly tumbling, its systems frozen solid.
- 1985Docking with a dead stationMilestone
Dzhanibekov and Savinykh fly a manual approach and dock by eye with the inert, rotating hulk — never attempted before.
- 1985Thawing it back to lifeMilestone
They find a frozen, ice-coated interior and work in fur-lined suits, restoring power and warmth over days as the ice melts.
- 1991Uncontrolled re-entryMission end
After being mothballed, Salyut 7 falls over Argentina, scattering debris.
Images
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