Soyuz 21
Mission Statistics
Mission Name:Soyuz 21
Call Sign:Байкал (Baikal - "Lake Baikal")
Number of Crew Members:2
Launch:June 6, 1976
12:09 UTC
Baikonur LC1
Landing:August 24, 1976
18:32 UTC
200km SW of Kokchetav
Duration:49 days, 6 hours, 23 minutes
Number of Orbits:790

Soyuz 21 carried cosmonauts Boris Volynov and Vitali Zholobov to the Salyut 5 space station.

Experiments conducted during the mission were mainly of a military nature as part of the Almaz programme. However, various purely scientific tasks were also carried out, including solar observations and biological observations (an aquarium of fish was carried into orbit). A TV link-up with school children was also undertaken.

The cosmonauts' stay was cut short, although the reasons are not completely clear. Mention has been made of poisonous vapours present on the station, but the crew also seemed to be suffering psychologically and physically for other reasons. Zholobov in particular experienced terrible space-sickness and homesickness.

Crew

Mission Parameters

  • Mass: 6800 kg
  • Perigee: 246 km
  • Apogee: 274 km
  • Inclination: 51.6°
  • Period: 89.7 minutes

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