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Acknowledgments: Author thanks Igor Puchkov and Igor Postnikov at NPO Mashinostroenia, in Reutov, Russia, and Alain Chabot from Université Sainte-Anne in Church Point, Nova Scotia, Canada, for their help in preparing this section.
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Almaz space station technical overview As proposed in 1964, the Almaz space station, also designated 11F71 or 11F71B, was designed to have a rotating crew of three people and an operational life of 1-2 years. The station was to be equipped with the Agat optical camera. The film could be developed onboard the station. Every station was to be equipped with a single small capsule, designated 11F74, allowing the quick return to Earth of surveillance film and other payloads with a total mass of up to 100 kilograms. The habitable module of the station was devided into following main areas:
The propulsion section and solar panels would be also attached at the tail of the station. The Almaz was to be equipped with two RD-0225 (11D24) orbital maneuvering engines and 32 small attitude control thrusters. For high-accuracy attitude control, the station would be also equipped with gyrodines developed at VNIIEM and under supervision of Nikolai Sheremetievski. The surveillance equipment onboard Almaz was controlled by the Argon-16 onboard computer developed at VNITsVT institute. (78) Almaz space station tech specs: (49)
RD-0225 tech specs (145):
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PICTURE GALLERY
An artist rendering of the Almaz space station in "full" configuration docked with two TKS spacecraft. Credit: NPO Mash
An artist rendering of the initial version of the Almaz space station docked with Soyuz spacecraft. Credit: NPO Mash
The Almaz station consisted of three main sections: tail section (left), a "main diameter" section housing telescopes, and "small" diameter section (far right), containing living quarters. Copyright © 2002 by Anatoly Zak
The last manned Almaz station (OPS No. 104), equipped with a second docking port in the front section, was scheduled for launch in 1978, before the project was canceled. Copyright © 2002 by Anatoly Zak
A demonstration version of a flight-ready KSI reentry capsule. Copyright © 2002 by Anatoly Zak
The KSI reentry capsule configured for flight (left); a capsule minus its propulsion unit (center) and a heat shield protecting the capsule during the reentry (right). Copyright © 2002 by Anatoly Zak
Testing of the docking between the Almaz station and the TKS spacecraft. Credit: NPO Mash
The RD-0225 main engine (11D24) developed for the Almaz station. Credit: KBKhA |
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