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Kristall

retired

Кристалл

Human SpaceflightLEOCOSPAR 1990-048ALaunched 5/31/1990
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Kristall Mission
Launch Vehicle
Proton-K
Launch Date
5/31/1990
Last Contact
3/23/2001
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
380.5 km
Inclination
51.61 deg
Dry Mass
19,500 kg
Total Mass
19,500 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Human Spaceflight
Payload Category
SS
Payload Class
C
Organizations
Operator
NPO Energomash
Manufacturer
Khrunichev State Research and Production Center
Registry
COSPAR ID
1990-048A
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/229
Track
Mentions
9
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The APAS port on the Shuttle-Mir Orbiter Docking System was mechanically identical to the Kristall APAS specification but was modified for the shuttle’s electrical and control system.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jun 22, 2026A history of the APAS docking system

The Mir Docking Module was built to let the shuttle dock to Mir without re-docking Kristall for every mission.

Capability
Value 3.8
Jun 22, 2026
A history of the APAS docking system

Energia product code 008-09 was assigned to the -6001 APDA, and the Mir-era APAS units on Kristall carried Energia part number 008-01.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.5Jun 22, 2026A history of the APAS docking system

Kristall’s APAS-89 assemblies used NPO Energia part number 008-01.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Jun 22, 2026A history of the APAS docking system

Kristall’s APAS units lacked the two circular rubber gaskets on the hard docking collar and relied on the visiting spacecraft for the hermetic seal.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jun 22, 2026A history of the APAS docking system

The first two APAS-89 assemblies to fly in space were installed on the Mir station’s Kristall module.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jun 22, 2026A history of the APAS docking system

Commander Sergey Kud Sverchkov set up the Plasma Kristall 4 investigation in the Columbus laboratory module.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Dragon spacecraft gears up for crew 12 arrival and station science work

Sergey Kud Sverchkov switched the Plasma Kristall 4 experiment from neon to argon gas to configure the facility for studies of complex plasmas.

CapabilityValue 3.8Feb 3, 2026Dragon spacecraft gears up for crew 12 arrival and station science work

Plasma Kristall 4 investigations using argon gas are configured to explore the behavior of complex plasmas that can aid spacecraft design, shed light on how planets form, and contribute to fundamental physics.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Feb 3, 2026Dragon spacecraft gears up for crew 12 arrival and station science work