Kvant-1

Kvant-1 Module (Mir)

Kvant-1 in 1995
Module statistics
Mission name	Mir
Launch	March 31, 1987 00:06:16 UTC LC-200/39, Baikonur Cosmodrome, USSR
Launch vehicle	Proton-K
Docked	April 9, 1987 00:35:58 UTC
Re-entry	March 23, 2001 05:50:00 UTC
Time in Orbit	5106 days, 5 hours [1]
Length	5.3 m
Diameter	4.35 m [2]
Launch Mass (includes FSM):	20,600 kg[3]
Module Mass	11,000 kg (at launch)[3]
FSM Mass	9,600 kg (at launch)[3]
Habitable volume	40 m3

Kvant-1 (Russian: Квант-1; English: Quantum-I/1) (37KE) was the first module to be attached in 1987 to the Mir Core Module, which formed the core of the Soviet space station Mir. It remained attached to Mir until the entire space station was deorbited in 2001.^[4]

The Kvant-1 module contained scientific instruments for astrophysical observations and materials science experiments. It was used to conduct research into the physics of active galaxies, quasars and neutron stars and it was uniquely positioned for studies of the Supernova SN 1987A. Furthermore, it supported biotechnology experiments in anti-viral preparations and fractions. Some additions to Kvant-1 during its lifetime were solar arrays and the Sofora and Rapana girders.

The Kvant-1 module was based on the TKS spacecraft and was the first, experimental version of a planned series of '37K' type modules. The 37K modules featured a jettisonable TKS-E type propulsion module, also called the Functional Service Module (FSM). The control system of Kvant-1 had been developed by NPO "Electropribor" (Kharkiv, Ukraine).^[5]

After previous engineering tests with the Salyut 6 and Salyut 7 space stations (and temporarily attached TKS-derived space station modules like Kosmos 1267, Kosmos 1443 and Kosmos 1686) it became the first space station module to be attached semi-permanently to the first modular space station in the history of space flight.^[3] Kvant-1 was originally planned to be docked to the Salyut 7 space station, the plans however evolved to launch to Mir, initially considered on board the Soviet Buran space shuttle, which finally changed to a launch to Mir by the Proton-K rocket.