DEATH OF SOVIET COSMONAUT KOMAROV

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 15747533
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: November 22, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-00347
• Publication Date: April 24, 1967

�XML1F1-a-ri_gr
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
ttiord DISTRIBUTION LIS*
DEATH OF SOVIET COSMONAUT KOMAROV
1MC,
(b)(3)
Date 24 April 1967
SC No O4722/7
(b)(3
-SEC-Act-g-T
:,Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
Nrnerj �7-0-p�sE6RE_T_ eNsiO
b)(3
WARNENG
This document contains classified information affecting the national
security of the United States within the meaning of the espionage
laws, US Code, Title 18, Sections 793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits
its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to
an unauthorized person, as well as its use in any manner prejudicial
to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any
foreign government to the detriment of the United States.
(b)(3)
-7015-5-EeRE-T--
pproved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
Ninri
TO P-Streit-E-1:-
(b)(3)
Sc No. 04722/67
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
24 April 1967
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
Death of Soviet Cosmonaut Komarov
1. Colonel Vladimir Komarov, the single cosmonaut
aboard Soyuz-1, died this morning during the landing of
his spacecraft, according to Moscow television and radio
broadcasts. The announcements state that the spacecraft
became fouled in the rigging of the main parachute at an
altitude of about 4 miles, causing the capsule to plummet
to earth. Komarov presumably died on impact.
2. We have no confirmation of the Soviet announcements
Shortly before
Soyuz-1 re-entered the atmosphere, Komarov reported to the
ground: "The engine fired for 146 seconds. The ship was
oriented correctly. Everything is okay." The Soviet
statements that Komarov died during the landing are therefore
probably correct.
3. Komarov encountered persistent difficulties
throughout his flight with his stabilization system,
communications, and power supplies, and there was an
unsuccessful attempt to deorbit automatically on revolution
16. Komarov was then instructed to perform a manual
deorbit on revolution 18.
4. Soyuz-1 was the first manned flight of a new
spacecraft which had been tested twice since last November
without a crew. During the two unmanned flights the
capsule performed some small maneuvers, indicating that
it is intended for rendezvous and docking operations, but
no maneuvers were detected during Komarov's flight. Komarov's
communications with the ground indicated that Soyuz-1 had
three seats--two of them unoccupied for this flight.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
-Trir-S-EG-RET
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
To-r-sEGREL
(b)(3)
5. It is possible that the planned mission of
Soyuz-1 called for complex maneuvers and the launching of
a second spacecraft, but that these did not take place be-
cause of the technical problems encountered.
6. Soyuz-1 was orbited by the standard Soviet space
booster and weighed about 15,000 pounds. Contrary to some
Western press reports it was not boosted into orbit by the
more powerful "Proton" booster which the Soviets have used
recently for test flights of what is probably a new space
propulsion system.
2 -
�71:713�STreft-E-
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204
%awl 7-013�SEGRE-T
--TCYFr-SEGRE-1-
pproved for Release: 2019/11/06 C03171204