Space Rocket History #453 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Mid-term Review

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Mike Annis

According to George Low, the Soviet mission operations control room was quite large – it contained 16 two-man consoles, thus allowing them 32 flight controllers. In addition, there was a back row of consoles which were used for personnel such as the project technical director; this back row was also a work station for display controllers who control the main display boards in the front of the room.

Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City

Star City Location in Relation to Moscow

Soviet manned space mission control in Kaliningrad. Credit Getty Images

Oct 11

Space Rocket History #449 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Apollo-Salyut Test Mission Planning

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Mike Annis

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The spacecraft designers led by Caldwell Johnson faced a demanding task. Director Gilruth urged them to accelerate the development of the docking adapter design, aiming to have a functional model ready for the upcoming November meeting with the Soviets.

Apollo-Salyut Hardware

Present & Future Docking System

Docking Module Concept Design

Mar 25

Space Rocket History #335 – Impacts of Soyuz 11 on Future Soyuz, Salyut-1 & Apollo

Posted on March 25, 2020 by spac9750

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It was decided that henceforth, cosmonauts would wear pressure suits for launch and the return to Earth. Also, a system was installed to automatically pump air into the descent module in the event of decompression. Additionally, the ventilation valves were modified so a premature opening would cause them to re-close automatically. Of course these changes meant the spacecraft could only accommodate two cosmonauts.