Soyuz 4: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Crewed flight of the Soyuz programme}}

{{about|a 1969 spaceflight|the mission identified by NASA as ISS Soyuz 4|Soyuz TM-34}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

| name = Soyuz 4

| image = Soyuz45-1.jpg

| image_caption = Model of Soyuz 4 and [[Soyuz 5]] after performing the first docking of two crewed spacecraft on 16 January 1969.

| image_size = 290px

| mission_type = Test flight

| operator = [[Soviet space program]]

| COSPAR_ID = 1969-004A

| SATCAT = 03654

| mission_duration = 2 days 23 hours 20 minutes 47 seconds

| orbits_completed = 54 <ref name="Display">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-004A|title=Display: Soyuz 4 1969-004A|publisher=NASA|date=14 May 2020|access-date=17 October 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

| spacecraft = Soyuz 7K-OK No.12<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz4-soyuz5.html |title=Soyuz-4 and -5 crews perform docking, spacewalk between ships |work=www.russianspaceweb.com |date= |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

| spacecraft_type = [[Soyuz 7K-OK]] (active)

| manufacturer = [[Experimental Design Bureau]] (OKB-1)

| launch_mass = 6625 kg

| landing_mass = 2800 kg

| dimensions = 7.13 m long<br/>2.72 m wide

| launch_date = 14 January 1969, 07:30:00 [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]

| launch_rocket = [[Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz]]

| launch_site = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]], [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|Site 31/6]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/bairlc31.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030904162335/http://astronautix.com/sites/bairlc31.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2003|title=Baikonur LC31|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=2009-03-04}}</ref>

| landing_date = 17 January 1969, 06:50:47 GMT

| landing_site = 100 km at the southwest of [[Karaganda]], [[Kazakhstan]]

| crew_size = 1 up<br/>3 down

| crew_members = [[Vladimir Shatalov]]

| crew_landing = [[Vladimir Shatalov]]<br/>[[Aleksei Yeliseyev]]<br/>[[Yevgeny Khrunov]]

| crew_callsign = {{lang|ru|Амур}} ({{lang|ru-Latn|Amur}} – "[[Amur River]]")

| crew_photo =

| crew_photo_caption =

| crew_photo_size =

| orbit_reference = [[Geocentric orbit]]<ref name="Trajectory"/>

| orbit_regime = [[Low Earth orbit]]

| orbit_periapsis = 205.0 km

| orbit_apoapsis = 223.0 km

| orbit_inclination = 51.73°

| orbit_period = 88.72 minutes

| apsis = gee

| docking =

| docking_target = [[Soyuz 5]]

| docking_type = dock

| docking_date = 16 January 1969, 08:20 GMT

| undocking_date = 16 January 1969, 12:55 GMT

| time_docked = 4 hours 35 minutes

| insignia =

| insignia_caption =

| insignia_size =

| programme = [[Soyuz programme]]

| previous_mission = [[Soyuz 3]]

| next_mission = [[Soyuz 5]]

'''Soyuz 4''' ({{lang-ru|Союз 4}}, ''Union 4'') was launched on 14 January 1969, carrying [[Astronaut|cosmonaut]] [[Vladimir Shatalov]] on his first flight. The aim of the mission was to dock with [[Soyuz 5]], transfer two crew members from that spacecraft, and return to Earth. The previous [[Soyuz programme|Soyuz]] flight ([[Soyuz 3]]) was alsoa docking attempt but failed for various reasons.

The radio [[call sign]] of the crew was {{lang|ru-Latn|Amur}}, while Soyuz 5 was {{lang|ru-Latn|Baikal}}. This referred to the trans-Siberian railway project called the [[Baikal-Amur Mainline]], which was in development at the time.

== Crew ==

|terminology = Cosmonaut

|position1 = Commander

|crew1_up = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Vladimir Shatalov]]

|flights1_up = First

|position2 = Flight Engineer

|crew2_up = None

|crew2_down = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Aleksei Yeliseyev]]

|flights2_down = First

|position3 = Research Engineer

|crew3_up = None

|crew3_down = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Yevgeny Khrunov]]

|flights3_down = Only

=== Backup Crew ===

|terminology = Cosmonaut

|position1 = Commander

|crew1_up = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Georgy Shonin]]

|position2 = Flight Engineer

|crew2_up = None

|crew2_down = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Viktor Gorbatko]]

|position3 = Research Engineer

|crew3_up = None

|crew3_down = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Valeri Kubasov]]

=== Reserve Crew ===

|terminology = Cosmonaut

|position1 = Commander

|crew1_up = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Georgy Dobrovolsky]]

|position2 = Flight Engineer

|crew2_up = None

|crew2_down = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Vladislav Volkov]]

|position3 = Research Engineer

|crew3_up = None

|crew3_down = {{flagicon|URS}} [[Pyotr Kolodin]]

}}

== Mission parameters ==

* '''Mass:''' {{cvt|6625|kg}}

* '''Perigee:''' {{cvt|205.0|km}} <ref name="Trajectory">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1969-004A|title=Trajectory: Soyuz 4 1969-004A|publisher=NASA|date=14 May 2020|access-date=17 October 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

* '''Apogee:''' {{cvt|223.0|km}}

* '''Inclination:''' 51.73°

* '''Period:''' 88.72 minutes

=== Space walk ===

* ''''' Yeliseyev and Khrunov ''''' – EVA 1

* '''EVA 1 start''': 16 January 1969, 12:43:00 GMT

* '''EVA 1 end''': 16 January 1969, 13:15:00 GMT

* '''Duration''': 32 minutes

== Mission highlights ==

The Soyuz 4 and 5 spacecraft docked on 16 January 1969, the first time two crewed spacecraft had docked ([[Apollo 9]] would do the same in March of the same year). The two craft possessed only a primitive probe (Soyuz 4) and drogue ([[Soyuz 5]]) docking assembly. A connecting tunnel for the docking mechanism had not yet been developed, which prevented a simple internal transfer between the craft. This required the two transferring cosmonauts to spacewalk from one vehicle to the other. Aboard Soyuz 5, [[Yevgeny Khrunov]] and [[Aleksei Yeliseyev]] immediately began preparing for their [[extravehicular activity]] (EVA). [[Boris Volynov]], who would remain aboard Soyuz 5, filmed them donning their [[Yastreb]] [[space suit]]s.

On their 35th revolution of Earth, the two cosmonauts exited the spacecraft for the second Soviet spacewalk. One of Khrunov's lines became tangled and he accidentally closed the tumbler of his suit ventilator. This distracted Yeliseyev who did not set up the [[movie camera]] on the orbital module before exiting the spacecraft. As such, there is no film of the historic EVA, only a poor video transmission. One hour later, the two were greeted by Shatalov after the repressurisation of the Soyuz 4 orbital module, which also acted as an airlock. Soyuz 4 and 5 separated after 4 hours and 35 minutes docked together. Soyuz 4 re-entered the atmosphere and landed at {{cvt|100|km}} at the southwest of [[Karaganda]], in [[Kazakhstan]], on 17 January 1969.

The mission proved it was possible to perform the activities that would be needed on a Soviet lunar landing. The Soviet plan called for a lone cosmonaut to land on the Moon, return to lunar orbit, then make a spacewalk back from the [[LK (spacecraft)|landing craft]] to the orbiting spacecraft after docking. This was because there was no internal tunnel between the two craft as found on the American Apollo [[Apollo Command/Service Module|CSM]] and [[Apollo Lunar Module|LM]].

The crew were to meet [[Leonid Brezhnev]] during a lavish ceremony at the [[Moscow Kremlin|Kremlin]], but this was prevented by [[Attempted assassination of Leonid Brezhnev|an attempted assassination]] of the Soviet leader. A man shot eight times at the motorcade but aimed at the car containing [[Georgy Beregovoy]], [[Alexei Leonov]], [[Andriyan Nikolayev]], and [[Valentina Tereshkova]]. They were unharmed but Brezhnev's car was forced to speed away past the waiting Soyuz 4/5 crews on the podium.

=== EVA details ===

The docking mission had EVA objectives similar to those planned for Apollo 9. Soyuz 4 launched first, and was the active vehicle in the docking with [[Soyuz 5]]. The news agency [[TASS]] stated that: "there was a mutual mechanical coupling of the ships... and their electrical circuits were connected. Thus, the world's first experimental cosmic station with four compartments for the

crew was assembled and began functioning". The mission rehearsed elements of the Soviet piloted lunar mission plan. Moscow TV carried the cosmonauts' EVA preparations live. Khrunov and Yeliseyev put on their Yastreb ("hawk") suits in the Soyuz 5 orbital module with aid from commander [[Boris Volynov]].

Yastreb suit design commenced in 1965, shortly after [[Alexei Leonov]]'s difficult EVA. Leonov served as a consultant for the design process, which was completed during 1966. Suit fabrication and testing occurred in 1967, but the fatal Soyuz 1 accident in April of that year and docking difficulties on the joint Soyuz 2-Soyuz 3 mission delayed its use in space until Soyuz 4-Soyuz 5.

Volynov checked out Khrunov and Yeliseyev's life support and communications systems before returning to the descent module, sealing the hatch, and depressurizing the orbital module. Khrunov went out first, transferring to the Soyuz 4 orbital module while the docked spacecraft were over [[South America]], out of radio contact with the [[Soviet Union]]. Yeliseyev transferred while the spacecraft were over the Soviet Union. They closed the Soyuz 4 orbital module hatch behind them, then Soyuz 4 Commander Vladimir Shatalov repressurised the orbital module and entered to help Khrunov and Yeliseyev get out of their suits. The spacewalkers delivered newspapers, letters, and telegrams printed after Shatalov lifted off to help prove that the transfer took place.

== See also ==

{{Portal|Spaceflight|Soviet Union}}

== References ==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soyuz 04}}

[[Category:Crewed Soyuz missions]]