Launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome; landing
36 km northeast of Arkalyk.
Following a one day solo flight
Soyuz 24 docked
with the space station Salyut 5 on February 08, 1977. However, the crew did not
immediately enter the station, atypically having a sleep period first and
delaying their entry by some 11 hours. Observers speculate that problems with
fumes which may have caused the
Soyuz 21 crew to
leave were resolved or dealt with by the new crew. They entered the station
wearing breathing apparatus and made numerous tests of the atmosphere before
apparently concluding conditions were safe and removing their breathing
devices.
The crew brought repairing tools and equipment for changing of
cabin atmosphere. The cabin air was not toxic, so the changing of the cabin
atmosphere was performed as a scientific experiment.
The crew continued
the research started by the
Soyuz 21 crew,
performed Earth resources work, biological and materials experiments. But,
being a part of the Almaz military Salyut program, other unrevealed projects
were likely carried out. The flight would prove to be not only the final flight
to a military Salyut station, but also the final all-military crew to be
launched by the Soviets.
