Salyut 5
Expedition 1

Launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome; landing 200 km southwest of Kokchetav.

Following a one day solo flight the Soyuz docked with Salyut 5 on 07.07.1976. The docking was problematic, because of a failure of the Igla system. Main military experiments were done. Observation of aquarium fishes in the microgravity, solar observation and biological observation (plant growing) were carried out. The Kalialaun experiment was needed for observation of crystal grooving in space. Also a TV conference with pupils was held.

Premature return to Earth because of suspected toxic gases in the spacestation. Zholobov suffered from space sickness and homesickness and the crew from psychological problems. At landing date the crew was in very bad psychological and mental condition. So it could be, that the problem with toxic gases could have been only a pretext, but nothing is sure.