oct 12, 1964 - The Almaz Program (Kyle)

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On october 12 1964, the Soviet Union began a new secret military space program known as the Almaz Program. The program was led by Vladimir Chelomei and was intended as a response to the United States' manned orbiting laboratory (MOL) which was a space station which’s sole purpose was reconnaissance on the Soviet Union using a large telescope to take photos. The Almaz stations served a similar purpose to the MOL however the Almaz stations were armed with 23mm Rikhter rapid fire cannon which was most commonly used on soviet bomber planes.

For most of the 1960s, the Almaz program was suspended as the Soviet space program was more focused on the Moon race and directed its resources towards it. The project eventually started moving forward again under Chelomei. The first Almaz station, OPS-1 was launched on april 3 1973 and a few days later reaching space, a mysterious accident on the station depressurized and disabled it, preventing any crew to go and man the station. The second station OPS-2 was successful and welcomed a small crew of 4 people on June 25 1974, and it conducted reconnaissance while appearing as a civilian space mission.

“The Almaz Program.” Russianspaceweb.com, 2025, www.russianspaceweb.com/almaz.html.

‌“The Space Review: Diamonds and DORIANS: The Soviet Union’s Almaz and the United States’ Manned Orbiting Laboratory Military Space Stations (Part 1).” Thespacereview.com, 2023, www.thespacereview.com/article/4708/1. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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