Soyuz 20

Soyuz 20

Mission type	Test flight
Operator	Soviet space program
COSPAR ID	1975-106A
SATCATno.	08430
Mission duration	90 days 11 hours 47 minutes
Orbits completed	1470
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Soyuz 7K-T No.8
Spacecraft type	Soyuz 7K-T/A9
Manufacturer	NPO Energia
Launch mass	6570 kg
Landing mass	2800 kg
Dimensions	7.13 m long 2.72 m wide
Start of mission
Launch date	17 November 1975, 14:36:37UTC
Rocket	Soyuz-U
Launch site	Baikonur,Site 1/5
End of mission
Landing date	16 February 1976, 02:24 UTC
Landing site	56 km at the southwest ofArkalyk,Kazakhstan
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	199.7 km
Apogee altitude	263.5 km
Inclination	51.6°
Period	88.8 minutes
Docking withSalyut 4
Soyuz programme

Soyuz 20(Russian:Союз 20,Union 20) was an uncrewed spacecraft launched by theSoviet Union.It was a long-duration test of theSoyuz spacecraftthat docked with theSalyut 4space station.Soyuz 20 performed comprehensive checking of improved on-board systems of the spacecraft under various flight conditions. It also carried a biological payload. Living organisms were exposed to three months in space.

Mission parameters

• Mass:6,570 kg (14,480 lb)
• Perigee:199.7 km (124.1 mi)
• Apogee:263.5 km (163.7 mi)
• Inclination:51.6°
• Period:88.8 minutes

Return

It was recovered on 16 February 1976 at 02:24 UTC.