Soyuz 11

Soyuz 11 was a 1971 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Salyut 1, the world’s first space station.

Soyuz 11 was a 1971 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Salyut 1, the world’s first space station. The mission was successful in orbit, but all three cosmonauts died of asphyxiation after their spacecraft depressurized during re-entry. It remains the only mission in which humans died in space beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Mission overview

Soyuz 11 launched on 6 June 1971 and became the first and only crewed mission to dock with Salyut 1 during its operational period. The crew conducted experiments during an extended stay aboard the station, spending more than three weeks on Salyut 1.

Crew

The crew consisted of commander Georgi Dobrovolski, flight engineer Vladislav Volkov, and research engineer Viktor Patsayev. They were the first humans to live aboard the first space station.

Fatal re-entry accident

During descent back to Earth, a ventilation or pressure-equalization valve opened unexpectedly, causing rapid depressurization of the descent module. The three cosmonauts were found dead after landing; investigations attributed the deaths to asphyxiation from loss of cabin pressure. The crew was not wearing pressure suits during re-entry, which contributed to the fatal outcome.

Aftermath and legacy

The Soyuz 11 disaster prompted changes to Soyuz spacecraft design, including improved crew safety measures. The disaster led to redesigns of the Soyuz spacecraft and a temporary pause in Soviet human spaceflights. It is widely remembered as one of the most serious tragedies in human spaceflight history.