# Kosmos 557 > Soviet Salyut space station that malfunctioned shortly after launch **Wikidata**: [Q1420942](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1420942) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmos_557) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kosmos-557 ## Summary Kosmos 557 was a Soviet Salyut space station that malfunctioned shortly after its launch on May 11, 1973. Intended for crewed operations, the station failed to achieve a stable orbit and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere just 11 days later. It was part of the Salyut programme, which aimed to develop long-duration orbital platforms. ## Key Facts - **Type:** Soviet Salyut space station, classified as a former entity. - **Launch Date:** May 11, 1973, at 00:20:00 UTC. - **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23. - **Launch Vehicle:** Proton-K (serial 284-01). - **Mass:** 19,400 kilograms. - **Dimensions:** 15.8 meters in length, 4.5 meters in diameter, with an internal volume of 90 cubic meters. - **Maximum Capacity:** Designed to accommodate 3 passengers. - **Orbital Parameters:** Initial periapsis of 219 kilometers, apoapsis of 266 kilometers, and an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees, with an orbital period of 89.1 minutes. - **Fate:** Malfunctioned shortly after launch and underwent atmospheric entry on May 22, 1973, after approximately 175 orbits. - **Program Affiliation:** Part of the Salyut programme. - **Predecessor/Successor:** Followed Salyut 2 and was followed by Salyut 3. - **Country of Origin:** Soviet Union. - **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1973-026A, NSSDCA ID 1973-026A, SCN 06498. ## FAQs ### Q: What was Kosmos 557? A: Kosmos 557 was a Soviet Salyut space station that was launched on May 11, 1973. It was designed to be a crewed orbital platform but malfunctioned shortly after launch. ### Q: When was Kosmos 557 launched and what happened to it? A: Kosmos 557 was launched on May 11, 1973, from Baikonur Cosmodrome. It experienced a malfunction shortly after reaching orbit and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on May 22, 1973, after only 11 days in space. ### Q: What was the purpose of Kosmos 557? A: As a Salyut space station, Kosmos 557 was intended to be a crewed orbital platform, capable of accommodating up to three passengers. Its purpose was to contribute to the Soviet Union's Salyut programme for developing long-duration space stations. ### Q: What were the key specifications of Kosmos 557? A: Kosmos 557 had a mass of 19,400 kilograms, a length of 15.8 meters, and a diameter of 4.5 meters. Its internal volume was 90 cubic meters, and it was launched by a Proton-K rocket. ## Why It Matters Kosmos 557 holds significance as an early, albeit ill-fated, component of the Soviet Salyut programme, a pioneering effort in the development of long-duration crewed space stations. Its launch represented a continued commitment by the Soviet Union to establish a permanent human presence in space. Despite its advanced design and potential to host a crew of three, the station's malfunction shortly after launch prevented it from fulfilling its intended mission. This event underscored the immense technical challenges and inherent risks associated with launching and operating complex orbital platforms during the nascent stages of space exploration. The premature re-entry of Kosmos 557 after just 11 days in orbit meant a lost opportunity for the Soviet Union to gain crucial operational experience with crewed space stations at that specific juncture. However, even in its failure, Kosmos 557 contributed to the cumulative knowledge base of space engineering. Lessons learned from its malfunction and subsequent deorbiting would have been invaluable for informing the design, testing, and operational procedures of subsequent Salyut missions, ultimately contributing to the success of later, more stable space stations. Thus, Kosmos 557, despite its short life, played a role in the iterative process of innovation that propelled humanity's journey towards sustained presence beyond Earth. ## Notable For - Being a Soviet Salyut space station that suffered a critical malfunction shortly after its launch. - Its exceptionally brief operational life, re-entering the Earth's atmosphere just 11 days after being launched. - Its role as part of the pioneering Salyut programme, which aimed to establish long-duration crewed space stations. ## Body ### Overview Kosmos 557 was a Soviet Salyut space station, designated as DOS-3, launched on May 11, 1973. It was an instance of a space station and is now considered a former entity. The station was designed to be a crewed platform, capable of accommodating up to three passengers. However, it malfunctioned shortly after launch, preventing it from achieving its operational objectives. ### Launch and Orbital Characteristics The launch of Kosmos 557 occurred on May 11, 1973, at 00:20:00 UTC, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23. The station was propelled into orbit by a Proton-K carrier rocket, specifically vehicle 284-01. Upon reaching orbit, Kosmos 557 was placed into a low Earth orbit around its parent astronomical body, Earth. Its initial orbital parameters included a periapsis of 219 kilometers and an apoapsis of 266 kilometers. The orbital inclination was 51.6 degrees, and it completed an orbit approximately every 89.1 minutes. ### Specifications and Design Kosmos 557 had a substantial mass of 19,400 kilograms. Its physical dimensions included a length of 15.8 meters and a diameter of 4.5 meters. The internal volume available for crew and equipment was 90 cubic meters. The station was designed with a maximum capacity for three passengers. ### Operational History and Fate Despite its successful launch, Kosmos 557 experienced a significant malfunction shortly thereafter. This critical event prevented the space station from being utilized as intended. Consequently, the station's operational life was very short. After completing approximately 175 orbits, Kosmos 557 underwent atmospheric entry on May 22, 1973, just 11 days after its launch. ### Program Context Kosmos 557 was an integral part of the Soviet Salyut programme, a series of space stations developed by the Soviet Union. In the sequence of the programme, Kosmos 557 followed Salyut 2 and was intended to precede Salyut 3. Its designation as Kosmos 557 was used for public identification, while its internal designation was DOS-3. ## References 1. Jonathan's Space Report 2. [Source](https://www.space-track.org/#decay) 3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1973-026A) 4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-026A)