Russia's celebratory gesture in manned space flight ended in tragedy yesterday. After the most dangerous part of atmospheric re-entry had been completed, a parachute failure brought Soyuz-1 crashing to the ground from a height of four and a half miles. Colonel Vladimir Komarov, the only Russian to have undertaken two space flights, was killed instantly.
According to Tass, the Russian news agency, the flight programme of Soyuz-1, which included orbital manoeuvres and system testing, had been completed successfully. The spacecraft was being brought back to earth normally, and there is nothing to support the suggestions that a much larger programme had been abandoned because of unexpected difficulties.
But there is irony in this accident. The Russians have earned a reputation for extreme safety consciousness, and have suggested that the Americans were being irresponsible in their acceptance of unnecessary risks. Yet, as with the fire in the US Apollo capsule in January, the accident occurred not in space but during a part of the flight which can only be regarded as routine.
Parachute failures are rare, and the Soyuz-1 braking parachutes operated normally. Whether the final parachute "candled" or whether there was a failure of either cords or attachment points is not clear. The Russians said: "When the main cupola of the parachute opened at an altitude of seven kilometres the straps of the parachute, according to preliminary reports, got twisted, and the spaceship descended at a great speed, which resulted in Komarov's death."
It is assumed that Soyuz-1 weighed considerably more than earlier Russian craft, and there may have been a narrower safety margin than is normal. But the landing of spacecraft is now a frequent occurrence, and there have been no reports of difficulties.
Moral Setback
Unlike the American accident, the Soyuz-1 failure is unlikely to lead to anything other than a moral setback. There will be a delay because of the need for a full investigation, but it seems probable that only minor modifications will be necessary to the new spacecraft.
The Apollo craft is undergoing major modifications, which include complex system changes, and there is no doubt that the US difficulties are the more serious of the two. The Russians may redesign the whole of their braking and final landing as to provide some kind of secondary support for emergency use. A second main parachute could have saved Komarov, and a smaller emergency chute could have given him time to leave the spaceship as if from a crashing aircraft.
His final fall will have lasted for about three minutes - perhaps long enough to get out had there been provision for easy escape. This could be stretched to six minutes by an emergency parachute, long enough for an emergency exit even if the necessary procedures were complex.
The Russians are less concerned about weight penalties than are the Americans, a point which explains why the US make use of a pre-oxygen atmosphere while the Russians use a more complex and heavier mixed atmosphere system. There is therefore less reason for them to limit the amount of redundant emergency equipment a spaceship can carry, although the Soyuz series may well be stretching even Russian rocket power to the limit.
Moscow mourns But whatever the outcome of the investigation, or whatever modifications are necessary, it is a serious setback in prestige. Instead of jubilation, there is mourning in Moscow.
Within a few minutes of the announcement of the accident, the Kremlin issued an obituary of Colonel Komarov signed by Mr Brezhnev, Mr Kosygin, Mr Podgorny, and other senior politicians and scientists. A hero's funeral in Red Square and burial in the Kremlin wall were announced.
The obituary said: "We shall for ever cherish the memory of the loyal son of our Motherland, wonderful Communist, courageous explorer of space, comrade in arms, and friend. He will be an example for ever of heroism, courage, and valour. His name will summon the glory of our great Socialist country to new feats."
Message from US In Washington, Dr Charles Shelton, consultant to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, said that Colonel Komarov's death was a "matter for much sadness" a sentiment echoed in a telegram by US astronauts at the manned space-flight centre at Houston.
Governments throughout the world have sent messages of condolence to Russia and the dead cosmonaut's family. Colonel Komarov leaves a wife and two children, who did not know that he was to make this flight until he was already in space. He piloted the first multi-manned spacecraft in October, 1964 having won his way into a cosmonaut in spite of a heart ailment.
