khoji parkSpace · Salyut 7 Orbit · 1985
Two Cosmonauts Docked With a Silent, Frozen Space Station
A disabled orbital station was repaired in space after losing all electrical power
Read in slides1. Station Silence
The Salyut 7 space station had been vacant for eight months following an electrical power failure. A sensor in the solar array pointing system failed, preventing the batteries from recharging. A telemetry radio problem prevented ground control from detecting the malfunction. The station quickly exhausted its power reserves and shut down all onboard systems.
Radio contact with the orbital station ceased completely.
2. Soyuz T-13 Launch
The Soviet space program prepared a rescue mission to restore the disabled orbital facility. Soyuz T-13 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on June 6, 1985. The spacecraft carried commander Vladimir Dzhanibekov and flight engineer Viktor Savinykh. Engineers modified the Soyuz spacecraft to include control levers for proximity operations.
The ship spent two days conducting rendezvous tests in orbit.
3. Visual Inspection
The crew approached the inert station on June 8, 1985, and observed its condition. They saw the solar arrays pointing randomly while the station rolled slowly about its axis. Using a handheld laser rangefinder, the cosmonauts judged their distance during a fly-around inspection. Thermal blankets on the transfer compartment had turned gray from solar exposure.
The exterior structure appeared structurally intact despite the power loss.
4. Manual Docking
Dzhanibekov piloted his ship to intercept the forward port of Salyut 7 manually. He matched the rotation rate of the disabled station and achieved a soft dock. Upon achieving hard dock, the crew confirmed the station electrical system was completely dead. They sampled the internal air before opening the hatch.
The station air was very cold but breathable for the crew.
5. Entering the Frozen Station
Frost covered the interior walls and scientific apparatus throughout the station compartments. The cosmonauts wore heavy winter garb, including fur-lined hats, as they entered. Restoring electric power served as the immediate priority for the recovery team. Of the eight batteries, all were dead, and two were physically destroyed by the freezing conditions.
The crew began assessing the damaged electrical infrastructure.
6. Power Restoration
Dzhanibekov and Savinykh worked to recharge the remaining functional batteries. They used the Soyuz T-13 thrusters to turn the station toward the sun. This maneuver exposed the solar arrays to direct sunlight to generate power. On June 10, 1985, the crew successfully activated the internal air heaters.
The cosmonauts relied on Soyuz life support systems temporarily.
7. Attitude Control Reactivated
The crew successfully reactivated the station attitude control system on June 13, 1985. This reactivation allowed cargo spacecraft to approach the facility safely. A Progress supply freighter soon delivered replacement parts, fuel, and new batteries. Water tanks inside the station slowly thawed by the end of June.
The crew used television lights to heat frozen fluids.
8. Spacewalk Repairs
Dzhanibekov and Savinykh conducted a difficult spacewalk on August 2, 1985. They tested new Orlan-DM spacesuits designed for the future Mir station. The cosmonauts installed two extension panels on the port-side solar array. They also mounted an experiment to collect meteoritic dust from space.
Moscow television broadcast portions of the spacewalk live.
9. Crew Rotation
Soyuz T-14 arrived at Salyut 7 on September 17, 1985, bringing fresh station residents. Senior cosmonaut Georgi Grechko inspected the completed repairs alongside the new arrivals. Grechko and Dzhanibekov subsequently boarded Soyuz T-13 for their return to Earth. Savinykh remained aboard the restored station to continue scientific operations.
The return capsule landed safely in central Asia on September 26.
10. Historical Significance
The mission marked the first time a spacecraft docked with a dead space station. The successful salvage operation became one of the most notable engineering feats in space history. Engineers proved that complex orbital repairs could be performed by human crews. Salyut 7 returned to full operational status following the intervention.
The restored station continued its scientific mission in orbit.
11. Spacewalk Preparations
Dzhanibekov and Savinykh restored power and brought Salyut 7 back into operation after docking with the unresponsive station. Later supply deliveries supported the work and further occupation. Their recovery was carried out from Soyuz T-13, with the station’s frozen conditions and failed batteries requiring checks and repairs. The disabled station was not abandoned immediately after the first crew entered it.
The station returned to service after the repair mission.