Soyuz 16

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Soyuz 16 was a test flight in the project to achieve a joint Soviet-US space flight that resulted in the Apollo-Soyuz mission.

Cosmonauts Anatoli Filipchenko and Nikolai Rukavishnikov evaluated a modified Soyuz capsule and the docking equipment that would allow the dissimilar spacecraft to link up. Meanwhile, the flight gave the US and Soviet ground crews experience in working together, and satisfied US officials of the safety of the Soyuz craft.

The mission went exactly to plan, with both administrations happy with the performance of the spacecraft and ground crews.

Crew

Anatoli Filipchenko (2)
Nikolai Rukavishnikov (2)

(1) number of spaceflights each crew member has completed, including this mission.

Mission parameters

Mass: 6800 kg
Perigee: 184 km
Apogee: 291 km
Inclination: 51.8°
Period: 89.2 min

Preceded by:
Soyuz 15

Soyuz programme

Followed by:
Soyuz 17

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