Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 58

Soyuz 23

Radon

USSR

hi res version (288 KB)

Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  14.10.1976
Launch time:  17:40 UTC
Launch site:  Baikonur
Launch pad:  1
Altitude:  188 - 224 km
Inclination:  51,61°
Landing date:  16.10.1976
Landing time:  17:46 UTC
Landing site:  140 km SE of Arkalyk

hi res version (592 KB)

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position Flight No. Duration Orbits
1  Zudov  Vyacheslav Dmitriyevich  Commander 1 2d 00h 06m  32 
2  Rozhdestvensky  Valeri Iliyich  Flight Engineer 1 2d 00h 06m  32 

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1  Zudov
2  Rozhdestvensky
Landing
1  Zudov
2  Rozhdestvensky

Animations: Soyuz

(requires Macromedia Flash Player)
with friendly permission of www.marscenter.it

1st Double Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
1  Gorbatko  Viktor Vasiliyevich  Commander
2  Glazkov  Yuri Nikolayevich  Flight Engineer

hi res version (538 KB)

2nd Double Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
1  Berezovoy  Anatoli Nikolayevich  Commander
2  Lisun  Mikhail Ivanovich  Flight Engineer

Flight

Launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome; landing 195 km southwest of Tselinograd / 140 km southeast of Arkalyk.

The docking with space station Salyut 5 failed because of serious technical problems (approach was until 100 m, but the automatic docking system failed and the crew was not trained on manual docking). So the only possible solution was an immediate return to Earth.

The spacecraft experienced a remarkable and near catastrophic return to Earth. The crew landed at night on a frozen lake (Tengiz) during a snow-storm (195 km southwest of Tselinograd / 140 km southeast of Arkalyk). The ice broke, the parachute became wet and took the escape hatch under water. The capsule was cooled and the heating systems had been turned down to conserve the battery power. Several attempts, to reach the capsule, failed. Eventually swimmers were able to attach a cable to a helicopter. The capsule was taken by a helicopter and was dragged for 5 km over the sea. The next morning the crew could escape after a very cold night. The rescue men were surprised to find the crew alive.

Photos


©      

Last update on January 14, 2012.