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Kristall (77KST, TsM-T, 11F77T)

Kristall

Mir's third expansion module, dedicated to materials processing, Kristall was launched by the USSR and carried equipment for research on semiconductors and the purification of biologically active substances to the space station Mir. It also carried astrophysical, geophysical and technical experiments.

Kristall was 11.9 m long, 4.35 m in diameter. Solar arrays spanned 36 m. Its main body was similar to Kvant 2, with a multiple docking port instead of an EVA airlock module. The docking system was to host a future Buran visit, but was later used for Shuttle visits. The axial port was later coupled with the SO docking module to provide more clearance with the shuttle orbiter. The radial port of the docking port was never used.

Kristall increased Mir's mass to 83 metric tons and restabilized the station, thrown off kilter with the addition of Kvant 2.

The main experiments onboard were dedicated to material processing in space:

  • Ainur electrophoresis unit
  • Krater 5, Optizon 1, and CSK-1/Kristallizator semiconductor materials processing furnaces
  • Zona 2/3 materials processing furnaces

More instruments for other areas of science were also carried:

  • Buket gamma ray spectrometer
  • Glazar 2 UV telescope - cosmic radiation studies
  • Granar astrophysics spectrometer
  • Marina gamma ray telescope
  • Mariya magnetic spectrometer
  • Priroda 5 Earth resources camera system - consists of 2 KFA-1000 film cameras
  • Svet plant cultivation unit
Nation: USSR
Type / Application: Space station
Operator: MOM → RKA
Contractors: Khrunichev
Equipment: see above
Configuration: 77K (TKS) based module
Propulsion:
Power: via Mir
Lifetime:
Mass: 19500 kg
Orbit: 221 km × 335 km, 51.6° (typical)
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Kristall (77KST) (ex Kvant 3) 1990-048A 31.05.1990 Ba LC-200/39 Proton-K

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