Soyuz 23
(Salyut 5 - aborted)

Crew:
    Vyacheslav Zudov [1], Commander
    Valeri Rozhdestvensky [1], Flight Engineer

Backup Crew:
    Viktor Gorbatko
     (for Zudov)
    Yuri Glazkov
     (for Rozhdestvensky)

Launch:
    Location: Baikonur, Site 1/5
    Date: 14 October 1976
    Time: 17:39:18 UTC

Landing:
    Date: 16 October 1976
    Time: 17:45:53 UTC

Duration: 2 days, 0 hours, 6 minutes, 35 seconds

Call Sign: Rodon

Due to the failure of the automatic docking system and the fact that the crew had not been trained in manual docking, the cosmonauts did not dock with the Salyut 5 (Almaz 3) space station and returned to Earth. The capsule landed at night, in a snowstorm, on a frozen lake. The ice broke, the (still attached) parachute got wet and sank, which caused the capsule to invert. The escape hatch was now under water. Fortunately, there was a pressure equalization valve still above the waterline and this was opened to provide air. The crew then ate emergency rations and put on their water survival suits. Rescue crews were unsuccessful in reaching or righting the capsule, so a helicopter was finally able to snag the craft and literally drag it over 5 km to shore. The crew endured a very cold night, but were rescued in the morning.

Crew

Page last modified: 20 June 2022 16:58:41.