Information
Explore history, facts, modules, and life on board Salyut 1.
Salyut 1
The first space station and the opening step in Soviet orbital-station operations.
Salyut 1 reached orbit on April 19, 1971 and became the first space station. NASA describes Soyuz 10 as the first crewed spacecraft sent to the station, though its crew could not enter after a docking mechanism problem. Soyuz 11 later docked successfully and its crew lived aboard Salyut 1 for a then record-setting station mission before dying during return to Earth when their Soyuz spacecraft depressurized. Controllers commanded Salyut 1 into destructive reentry over the Pacific Ocean on October 11, 1971.
Launch
1971-04-19
NASA describes Salyut 1 as reaching orbit unmanned atop a Proton rocket on April 19, 1971.
First crewed visit
Soyuz 10
Soyuz 10 docked but the crew could not enter the station because of docking mechanism trouble.
First occupied station
Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11 successfully entered Salyut 1 and completed a record-setting station mission before the fatal return accident.
All values are approximate and vary with configuration.