41 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
41 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Almaz program"
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chunk: 3/3
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source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almaz_program"
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category: "reference"
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tags: "science, encyclopedia"
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date_saved: "2026-05-05T12:32:30.865531+00:00"
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instance: "kb-cron"
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---
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The FGB was a standalone spacecraft which was intended to function as a resupply craft for the Almaz space stations. The "functional" section of the name is representative of the fact that the FGB provided electrical power, propulsion, guidance, and docking. Cargo was presented as a large cargo bay accessible by the crew, as well as external fuel tanks. Other types of FGB existed, as it was a broad classification rather than a specific type of module. FGB-based vehicles include Transport Logistics Spacecraft (Russian Acronym: TKS) (1976–1983), Space Station modules (1985–present), and space tugs (1987–present)
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The modules based on the DOS design are not the only heritage of the Almaz program still in use: The habitat, propulsion and service module of the TKS spacecraft, the so-called Functional Cargo Block (FGB), went on to become the core of many Soviet and Russian space station modules. The FGB-based Kvant-1 module of the Mir space station was the first space station module of its kind, and the Zarya Functional Cargo Block, which is as of 2018 still in use on the International Space Station.
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=== Excalibur Almaz ===
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The private spaceflight company Excalibur Almaz, now defunct, bought the two partially completed Almaz-205 and Almaz-206 space station hulls from the Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya (the former OKB-52) with the stated intention to outfit and launch them.
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The Almaz-205 module is similar to the OPS-2 of the Salyut 3 station, while the Almaz-206 is closer to the OPS-3 of the Salyut 5 station.
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In addition, Excalibur Almaz acquired four VA return capsule hulls (derived from the TKS/VA spacecraft) and planned to outfit and launch them as well: one was planned to be used in support of space tourism while the other three capsules were reserved for scientific and commercial payloads. The needed development of propulsion systems for the VA capsule was reportedly delegated to an unnamed European organization as early as 2009.
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Excalibur Almaz as of January 2012 postponed its first launch to 2015 to be able to include more lucrative deep space capabilities like asteroid mining. However, in 2015 the company was reported to be in financial trouble, and it was not clear what happened to their spacecraft.
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Excalibur Almaz ceased operations in 2016 without ever launching a spacecraft. As of 2021 one of the two Almaz space station hulls formerly owned by Excalibur Almaz is on permanent display at the Isle of Man Motor Museum; the disposition of the other hull is unknown.
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== Depictions in fiction ==
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The Apollo Murders (2021), an alternate history novel by Chris Hadfield set in 1973 during the Cold War in which Apollo 18 intercepts Almaz in orbit with instructions to sabotage it
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== See also ==
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TKS, the resupply craft developed for Almaz and Salyut
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Militarisation of Space
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Bank of the Universe, edited by Boltenko A. C., Kyiv, 2014., publishing house "Phoenix", ISBN 978-966-136-169-9
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List of space stations
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== References ==
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== External links ==
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The Almaz Program, RussianSpaceWeb.com
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Almaz, Encyclopedia Astronautica
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The Almaz Space Station Program, Sven Grahn
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Mir Hardware Heritage (NASA Reference Publication 1357), David Portree
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Astrospies, an episode of Nova covering the MOL and Almaz
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Inside a Soviet Spy Station, NOVA Short |