Kosmos 638 Explained

Kosmos 638
Mission Type:Orbital test flight
Operator:Soviet space program
Cospar Id:1974-018A
Satcat:7234
Spacecraft:Soyuz 7K-TM s/n 71
Manufacturer:NPO Energia
Launch Date: GMT
Launch Rocket:Soyuz-U
Launch Site:Baikonur 31/6
Disposal Type:Deorbited
Landing Date: GMT
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Inclination:51.8°
Orbit Period:89.4 min
Apsis:gee
Programme:Soyuz programme
Previous Mission:Soyuz 13
Next Mission:Kosmos 656
Programme2:Kosmos (satellites)
Previous Mission2:Kosmos 637
Next Mission2:Kosmos 639

Kosmos 638 (ru|Космос 638) was an uncrewed test of the 1975 Apollo–Soyuz Test Project Soyuz. It carried an APAS-75 androgynous docking system.

This was followed by another uncrewed test of this spacecraft type, Kosmos 672. It was a Soyuz 7K-TM spacecraft.

When the air was released from the orbital module (which is ejected before re-entry of the capsule) it caused unexpected motions with the spacecraft. This led to the next test also being uncrewed.

Mission parameters

See also