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Soviet Space ProgramSoyuz U31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Kosmos 638
Launched
April 3, 1974
Summary
Kosmos 638 launched on a Soviet Space Program Soyuz U from 31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan on April 3, 1974. It was Soviet Space Program's 813th launch, 12th this year and humanity's 1,557th orbital launch attempt. It was the 5th Soyuz U flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Kosmos-638, one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 197 × 316 km orbit inclined 51.8°. The spacecraft was Soyuz 7K-TM No.71 (Soyuz 7K-TM 11F615A12 #71). 5 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Test Flight · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 5th Soyuz U flight · 2nd this yearSoviet Space Program's 813th launch12th this yearhumanity's 1,557th orbital launch attempt19th orbital launch attempt this year
Spacecraft
Soyuz 7K-TM No.71 (Soyuz 7K-TM 11F615A12 #71)
Apollo–Soyuz Test Project version of the Soyuz spacecraft
- Destination: Low Earth Orbit
- Mission length: 9 days 16 hours
The Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft safely landed in Kazakhstan.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Kosmos-638 · NORAD 7234 · 1974-018 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 5 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1974-018A
- Epoch
- 1974-04-03 10:17:38 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.09148727 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0089673
- Inclination
- 51.7723°
- Ascending node
- 313.655°
- Arg. of perigee
- 83.8264°
- Mean anomaly
- 277.2916°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 2
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
5 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage, 3 components; none still in orbit
- Kosmos-638 · NORAD 7234 · landed April 13, 1974
Soyuz-U No. 009 Blok-I · re-entered April 9, 1974
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Kosmos 638 was the first uncrewed test of the Soyuz 7K-TM built for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, carrying the APAS-75 androgynous docking system. It spent ten days in orbit; venting the orbital module before reentry caused unexpected motion, which prompted a further uncrewed test.
Pad
31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
147th launch from 31/6, 3rd this year · 393rd from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
430 launches from this pad · 1,565 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
13 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of KazakhstanOpen in maps
Questions
When did Kosmos 638 launch?
Kosmos 638 launched on April 3, 1974. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Kosmos 638?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Kosmos 638?
Soyuz U, flown by Soviet Space Program. Soyuz U spec sheet
Where did Kosmos 638 launch from?
31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.
What orbit did Kosmos 638 reach?
Kosmos-638, one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 197 × 316 km orbit inclined 51.8°.
Which program is Kosmos 638 part of?
Soyuz. About Soyuz