Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation. References: 42 , 103 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable; also performed earth resources tasks. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

The EPOS spaceplane made its first flight, taking off from an old dirt airstrip near Moscow, flying straight ahead to an altitude of 560 m, and landing at the Zhukovskii flight test center 19 km away. Pilot was A. G. Festovets.

From 1976 to 1977 two Block R stages underwent thorough tests of all of their systems. The Block R could have operated up to 7 hours with 7 restarts. Not adopted for production for unknown reasons. References: 21 .

Maritime communications. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Soyuz 23 was to have docked with the Salyut 5 space station but its long-distance rendezvous system failed. It landed at night (October 16, 1976 17:46 GMT), in a snowstorm, in -20 deg C weather, on the surface of Lake Tengiz. The recovery crews did not find the capsule until the next morning, and were surprised to find the crew alive. References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 32 , 33 .

Maximum Altitude - 1512 km. References: 98 .

Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 86 degree longitude of ascending node. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 100 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Statsionar T. Transmission of colour and black-and-white USSR central television programmes to the network of public receiving units located in population centres in Siberia and the Far North. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 67 , 274 .

Escape system test assembly sled ship from Downey to Holloman, N.M. References: 15 .

Military navigation satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Solid rocket booster 1/4-scale model (burnout configuration) References: 15 .

Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Decree 'On approval of a tactical-technical requirement for Buran' was issued. References: 474 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Photo surveillance; returned film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Investigation of the corpuscular and electromagnetic radiation of the sun and of solar plasma fluxes, study of the magnetic fields in circumterrestrial space in order to determine the effects of solar activity on the interplanetary medium and in the magne tosphere of the earth. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Unmanned military Soyuz 7K-S test flight. Recovered December 17, 1976 10:31 GMT. Transmitted only on 20.008 MHz and 166 MHz frequencies, at none of the other usual Soyuz wavelengths.
Maneuver Summary:
196 km X 290 km orbit to 187 km X 335 km orbit. Delta V: 15 m/s
187 km X 335 km orbit to 259 km X 335 km orbit. Delta V: 21 m/s
259 km X 335 km orbit to 260 km X 345 km orbit. Delta V: 2 m/s
260 km X 345 km orbit to 265 km X 368 km orbit. Delta V: 7 m/s
265 km X 368 km orbit to 267 km X 391 km orbit. Delta V: 6 m/s
267 km X 391 km orbit to 300 km X 310 km orbit. Delta V: 32 m/s
Total Delta V: 83 m/s References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 21 , 121 .

Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On Expansion of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) Single Space Navigation System--development of GLONASS' was issued. References: 474 .

After a long review process the VPK issued the project plan for development of the system in December 1976. It would now use the new Zenit launch vehicle.

Replaced Cosmos 500. Possible ELINT satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Continued operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio-communication system within the Soviet Union and transmission of USSR central television programmes to stations in the Orbita and participating international networks (international coope ration scheme). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Photo surveillance; film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

ASAT target for Cosmos 886 interceptor. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 272 .

Complete overland roadway construction, Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base References: 15 .

Military-Industrial Commission (VPK) Decree 342 'On development of the Topaz-1 thermionic nuclear reactor for Plasma-A spacecraft' was issued. References: 474 .

Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On adoption of the Tselina-D into armaments' was issued. References: 474 .

The MKS draft project was completed on 12 December 1976.The military assigned the system the index number 1K11K25 and the launch vehicle the article number 11K25.

Double reentry test of TKS-VA capsule of TKS orbital shuttle. Spacecraft each weighed 9,090 kg. One was placed into a lower 189 X 213 km orbit, the other at the higher orbit indicated. After one orbit, both recovered at 44 deg N, 73 deg E, on December 15, 1976 3:00 GMT. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 67 , 274 , 439 .

Test of TKS-VA capsule. Two satellites launched by a single rocket. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 67 , 274 , 439 .

Military navigation satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Military-Industrial Commission (VPK) Decree 'On course of work on Energia-Buran' was issued. The declaration of the Presidium directed co-operation between all concerned user, research, and factory organisations in realising the project. Chief Constructor within NPO Energia was I N Sadovskiy. Chief Designer for the launch vehicle was Y P Kolyako and for the orbiter P V Tsybin. NPO Yuzhnoye in the Ukraine would build the booster rockets. References: 474 .

KH-11 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Released 18 Romb radar calibration subsatellites. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

ASAT interceptor. Intercepted and destroyed Cosmos 880 target. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 272 .

Military navigation satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Continued operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio-communication system within the Soviet Union and transmission of USSR central television programmes to stations in the Orbita and participating international networks (international coope ration scheme). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

He had been diagnosed with cancer. Surgery was unsuccessful in halting its progress.