Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Almaz
The Almaz (Алмаз - "Diamond") program was a series of military space stations launched by the Soviet Union under cover of the Salyut program. Three Almaz stations were launched; Salyut 2, Salyut 3 and Salyut 5. Salyut 2 failed shortly after achieving orbit, but Salyut 3 and 5 both conducted successful manned testing.
In addition to reconnaisance equipment, the Almaz had an on-board 23mm Nudelmann aircraft cannon (other sources say it was a Nudelmann NR-30 30mm gun). Salyut 3 conducted a successful test firing on a target satellite.
Following the cancellation of the manned Almaz program, leftover Almaz spaceframes flew, a decade later, as unmanned radar satellites.
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details