Soyuz 20

Soyuz 20
Mission typeOrbital test flight
OperatorSoviet space program
COSPAR ID1975-106A
SATCAT no.8430
Mission duration90 days, 11 hours and 47 minutes
Orbits completed1470
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSoyuz 7K-T No.8
Spacecraft typeSoyuz 7K-T/A9
ManufacturerNPO Energia
Launch mass6,570 kg (14,480 lb)[1]
Landing mass2,800 kg (6,200 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date17 November 1975,
14:36:37 UTC
RocketSoyuz-U
Launch siteBaikonur 1/5[2]
End of mission
Landing date16 February 1976, 02:24 UTC
Landing site56 km at the southwest of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[3]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude199.7 km (124.1 mi)
Apogee altitude263.5 km (163.7 mi)
Inclination51.6°
Period88.8 minutes
Docking with Salyut 4[4][5]
Docking date19 November 1975, 16:19 UTC
Undocking date16 February 1976, 23:07 UTC
Time docked89 days, 6 hours and 48 minutes

Soyuz 20 (Russian: Союз 20, Union 20) was an uncrewed spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union. It was a long-duration test of the Soyuz spacecraft that docked with the Salyut 4 space station. Soyuz 20 performed comprehensive checking of improved on-board systems of the spacecraft under various flight conditions. It also carried a biological payload. Living organisms were exposed to three months in space. The primary goal of the mission was to test hardware modifications to the Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft that would extend its operating life from two to three months in preparation for long-duration Salyut crew residencies.

Mission parameters

  • Mass: 6,570 kg (14,480 lb) [1]
  • Perigee: 199.7 km (124.1 mi)[3]
  • Apogee: 263.5 km (163.7 mi)
  • Inclination: 51.6°
  • Period: 88.8 minutes

Return

It was recovered on 16 February 1976 at 02:24 UTC.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Soyuz 20". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Mark Wade. "Baikonur LC1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Soyuz 20: Trajectory". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Anatoly Zak. "The Salyut Era: First Space Stations". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  5. ^ Robert Christy. "Salyut 4". Orbital Focus. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
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