NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1978-032B
Cosmos 998 was a Soviet military satellite launched along with Cosmos 997 from the Baikonur cosmodrome aboard a Proton rocket.
It was a landing capsule of the three crew military TKS transport/resupply spacecraft for the Almaz space station. It was called "our Apollo" by cosmonaut Leonov. After separation of the capsule from the Almaz, the retrorocket assembly at top deorbited the capsule. TKS capsules (VA is the Russian acronym) flew 13 times between 1976 and 1983, ten times in capsule tests, three times as part of the complete TKS spacecraft which docked with the Salyut space stations. They were never flown manned.
Launch Date: 1978-03-30
Launch Vehicle: Proton Booster Plus Upper Stage
Launch Site: Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), U.S.S.R
Mass: 7000 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office