The first space station was launched by the USSR in 1971. It was called Salyut 1 (Salute 1 in English). Salyut 1's purpose was to test the elements of the systems of a space station and to conduct scientific research. The space station was 20m long and 4m in diameter. Salyut 1 was launched unmanned, but later visited by the crew of Soyuz 11. After spending 22 days on board Salyut 1, the crew undocked and returned to Earth. After 175 days in space, Salyut 1 was deorbited and destroyed in the Earth's atmosphere.

This was the first space station and was put into orbit by the USSR.

Salyut 1

* Salyut space stations (USSR, 1971-1986) ** Salyut 1 (1971, 1 crew and 1 failed docking) ** DOS-2 (1972, launch failure) ** Salyut 2/Almaz (1973, failed shortly after launch) ** Cosmos 557 (1973, re-entered eleven days after launch) ** Salyut 3/Almaz (1974, 1 crew and 1 failed docking) ** Salyut 4 (1975, 2 crews) ** Salyut 5/Almaz (1976-1977, 2 crews and 1 failed docking) ** Salyut 6 (1977-1981, 16 crews (5 long duration, 11 short duration and 1 failed docking) ** Salyut 7 (1982-1986, 10 crews (6 long duration, 4 short duration and 1 failed docking) * Skylab space station (USA, 1973-1974, 3 crews) * Mir space station (USSR/Russia, 1986-2000, 28 long duration crews)

Salyut 1, April 1971