On this day in space! Sept. 29, 1977: The Soviet Union's Salyut 6 space station launches into orbit for long-duration spaceflights
This article recounts the 1977 launch of the Soviet Union's Salyut 6, the first second-generation space station designed for long-duration missions. It highlights the station's technical advancements, such as dual docking ports and an airlock for spacewalks, which supported 16 cosmonaut crews over five years.
Why it matters
Salyut 6 was a pivotal milestone in orbital infrastructure, setting the stage for modern long-term human presence in space.
Salyut 6 launched into the history books as the first second-generation space station designed for long space missions.
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Click for next article Copy link Reddit Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter On Sept. 29, 1977, the Soviet Union launched its Salyut 6 space station into orbit.
This was the eighth space station the Soviet Union launched under its Salyut program and the first second-generation Salyut space station . Unlike its predecessors, Salyut 6 was able to accommodate long-duration crewed missions. It launched into orbit on a Proton-K rocket.
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