russian lit soviet space station eighth flown programme launched september rocket station second generation type space station possessed revolutionary advances earlier soviet space stations resembled overall design included addition second docking port new main propulsion system station primary scientific instrument addition second docking port crew station resupply progress possible time early stations means resupply removing accumulated garbage aside limited carry spacecraft propulsion system exhausted supply consequently launched station mission concluded result manned missions maximum duration months progress spacecraft bring fresh supplies dispose waste destroyed spacecraft crew took place station lifespan late early late early including countries programme crews responsible carrying primary missions including astronomy earth resources observations study effect human body following completion missions launch successor july years launch description launched rocket september marked switch engineering development stations routine operations united effective elements previous stations navigation system delta semi automatic computer depict station orbit system control orientation based power system consisted trio solar panels producing peak kilowatts power station thermal regulation systems use sophisticated arrangement derived addition use environmental systems controlled orientation tested station important feature addition second docking port aft end station allowed spacecraft docked turn allowed resident crews receive shorter visiting expeditions whilst remained board crew place addition allowed spacecraft exceeded operating lifespan returned earth replaced fresh ones maximum operating lifespan months expedition station arrived permitted long sought aim continuous occupation step closer long duration crew visit station broke long standing endurance record set board american station staying days orbit whilst longest expedition lasted days visiting expeditions flown programme non soviet visiting station czechoslovakia space traveller ussr visited station hosted hungary poland romania cuba vietnam ports fitted allow station progress spacecraft brought supplies extra equipment station helped ensure crew able carry useful scientific work aboard station progress flights delivered tonnes equipment supplies fuel addition extra docking port caused adoption derived twin chamber propulsion system engine producing thrust mounted aft port introduced unified propulsion system engines station control running nitrogen drawn common set tanks allowing capabilities visiting progress exploited maximum effect entire engine fuel storage assembly contained bay rear station diameter main compartment replacement engine previous stations bay meant station kept similar overall length predecessors main engines fired rear docking port use maneuvers time performed visiting spacecraft propulsion system experienced malfunction second crew residency usable remainder station lifespan consequence limited firing attitude control visiting spacecraft perform adjustments crew residency ended necessary progress spacecraft boost station high orbit wouldn decay residency began enable equipped inward opening hatch forward transfer compartment similar way system compartment contained new semi rigid allowed greater flexibility earlier suits donned minutes case emergency finally station offered considerable improvements living conditions previous outposts machinery crews provided designated sleeping station shower extensive gymnasium instruments primary instrument carried aboard station carry astronomical observations infrared metre diameter mirror operated conditions operated night earth cover closed rest time second major instrument camera carried earth resources observations improved form camera tested camera captured area kilometres image resolution metres image captured simultaneously bands frame required regular replacement effects radiation featured mapping camera focal length captured images kilometres resolution metres visible infrared operated remotely resident crews photographic capabilities station extensive planted number specifically selected crops test sites examine capabilities cameras expand scientific capabilities equipped observations scientific expose equipment space rubbish pieces apparatus carry biological experiments later flight progress spacecraft delivered external radio observatory incorporated directional antenna antenna deployed rear docking assembly controller remaining inside station astronomical meteorological observations support craft primarily supported manned spacecraft carried crew event emergency evacuation ferries docked automatically station making use new automatic docking system departing crews return earth end flight station able newly developed progress dock rear port port lacked refuel propulsion system docked automatically station opened emptied board whilst transfer fuel station took place automatically supervision ground addition progress spacecraft final crew left visited experimental transport logistics spacecraft called transport logistics spacecraft known originally designed programme proved large dock automatically space stations major step construction stations resident crews station received crews including long duration crews longest expedition lasting days resident crew missions identified prefix whilst short duration missions identified december resident crew arrived remained aboard days june arrived remained board days arrived february stayed days april arrived longest stay days aboard july sent wished happy starts live communication station opening ceremony summer olympics held appeared stadium voices translated loud speakers repair mission consisting worked space station days starting november march resident crew arrived stayed days station operations docking operations dates times hour moscow time source station crews dates times hour coordinated universal time dates times hour coordinated universal time source
Salyut 6