Salyut 7, the Soviet space station, was in an unmanned orbit around the Earth. It abruptly ceases to respond to Ground Control signals. The destruction of this station, the glory of Soviet science and space industry, would not only harm the country's image, but also cause catastrophe, most likely resulting in death. Astronauts must be sent to the station to determine what caused the breakdown and to avert a disaster. Nobody, however, has ever docked an uncontrollable object in space. This is still the most technically difficult mission in the history of space navigation.
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Salyut 7, the Soviet space station, was in an unmanned orbit around the Earth. It abruptly ceases to respond to Ground Control signals. The destruction of this station, the glory of Soviet science and space industry, would not only harm the country's image, but also cause catastrophe, most likely resulting in death. Astronauts must be sent to the station to determine what caused the breakdown and to avert a disaster. Nobody, however, has ever docked an uncontrollable object in space. This is still the most technically difficult mission in the history of space navigation.
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