# Salyut 2

> Soviet space station which was launched in 1973

**Wikidata**: [Q838179](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q838179)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salyut_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/salyut-2

## Summary

Salyut 2 was a space station developed by the Soviet Union. It operated as a space station under the jurisdiction of the Soviet Union.

## Summary
Salyut 2 was a Soviet space station launched in 1973 as part of the Almaz program, designed for military reconnaissance and espionage. It was the second space station in the Salyut series but failed shortly after launch due to a catastrophic depressurization, rendering it inoperable.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: April 3, 1973, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23.
- **Mass**: 18,600 kg (41,000 lbs).
- **Dimensions**: Length 14.55 m (47.7 ft), diameter 4.15 m (13.6 ft), width 17 m (55.8 ft).
- **Orbital Parameters**: Apoapsis 278 km (173 mi), periapsis 257 km (160 mi), inclination 51.6°, orbital period 89.8 minutes.
- **Mission Duration**: Operated for only 55 days before decaying on May 28, 1973.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-K rocket.
- **Purpose**: Military reconnaissance (espionage) under the Almaz program.
- **Capacity**: Designed to hold up to 3 crew members.
- **Preceded by**: DOS-2 (failed launch) and Salyut 1.
- **Followed by**: Salyut 3 (launched June 25, 1974).

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Salyut 2?
A: Salyut 2 was a military space station intended for reconnaissance and espionage as part of the Soviet Almaz program. It was designed to conduct surveillance from orbit.

### Q: Why did Salyut 2 fail?
A: The station suffered a catastrophic depressurization shortly after launch, likely due to a rupture in its propulsion system, making it unusable. It remained in orbit for 55 days before decaying.

### Q: How did Salyut 2 differ from other Salyut stations?
A: Unlike the civilian-focused Salyut 1, Salyut 2 was part of the Almaz military program and was equipped for espionage. It was also physically larger, with a mass of 18,600 kg compared to Salyut 1's 18,425 kg.

### Q: What happened to Salyut 2 after its failure?
A: The station remained in orbit uncontrollably until May 28, 1973, when it re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up. No crew ever boarded it.

### Q: What came after Salyut 2?
A: The next station in the series was Salyut 3, launched in June 1974, which was also part of the Almaz program and successfully hosted a crew.

## Why It Matters
Salyut 2 represents an early attempt at militarizing space through orbital reconnaissance, reflecting Cold War-era competition between the Soviet Union and the United States. While its mission was a failure, it demonstrated the Soviet Union's ambition to develop dual-use space stations for both scientific and military purposes. The lessons learned from its failure informed the design and operation of subsequent Salyut stations, particularly Salyut 3, which achieved partial success. As part of the Almaz program, Salyut 2 also highlights the intersection of space exploration and national security, a theme that continues to influence space policy today. Its short-lived mission underscores the technical challenges of early space station development, including life support, structural integrity, and orbital stability.

## Notable For
- **First Military Space Station**: Part of the Almaz program, it was the first Soviet space station explicitly designed for military reconnaissance.
- **Shortest Operational Lifespan**: Failed almost immediately after launch, operating for only 55 days before decaying.
- **Large Size for Its Time**: With a mass of 18,600 kg and a volume of 90 m³, it was one of the largest space stations launched in the early 1970s.
- **Uncrewed Mission**: No cosmonauts ever boarded Salyut 2 due to its early failure.
- **Predecessor to Successful Military Stations**: Its failure paved the way for Salyut 3, which later achieved a crewed military mission.

## Body
### Overview
Salyut 2 was a Soviet space station launched on April 3, 1973, as part of the Almaz program, a classified military project aimed at developing orbital reconnaissance platforms. It was the second station in the Salyut series but the first intended for military use. The station was launched using a Proton-K rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23.

### Design and Specifications
- **Structure**: The station had a cylindrical shape with a length of 14.55 meters and a maximum diameter of 4.15 meters. Its solar panels spanned 17 meters when deployed.
- **Mass and Volume**: Weighing 18,600 kg, Salyut 2 had an internal volume of 90 cubic meters, designed to accommodate up to three crew members.
- **Orbital Parameters**:
  - **Apoapsis**: 278 km
  - **Periapsis**: 257 km
  - **Inclination**: 51.6 degrees
  - **Orbital Period**: 89.8 minutes
  - **Eccentricity**: 0.000158

### Mission and Failure
Salyut 2 was intended to conduct military reconnaissance, including photographic surveillance and electronic intelligence gathering. However, shortly after reaching orbit, the station suffered a catastrophic failure. A rupture in the propulsion system caused rapid depressurization, making the station inoperable. No crew was ever sent to Salyut 2, and it remained in an uncontrolled orbit for 55 days before re-entering Earth's atmosphere on May 28, 1973.

### Context within the Salyut Program
- **Predecessors**:
  - **DOS-2**: A civilian Salyut station that failed during launch.
  - **Salyut 1**: The first successful space station, launched in 1971, which hosted one crew before being decommissioned.
- **Successors**:
  - **Salyut 3**: Launched in 1974, it was another Almaz station that successfully hosted a crew and conducted military operations.
  - **Kosmos 557**: A failed civilian Salyut station launched in 1973, which decayed shortly after reaching orbit.

### Technical Legacy
The failure of Salyut 2 provided valuable data for Soviet engineers, particularly in understanding the risks of propulsion system failures and the importance of redundancy in life-support systems. These lessons were applied to subsequent Salyut stations, improving their reliability and operational lifespan.

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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1973-017A)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013