[FPSPACE] Clarification of Soyuz 20 & 21

[Kosmos327 at aol.com]

Hi Gang,
 
I'm looking for clarification on the designs and classifications of the  
Soyuz 20 and 21 spacecrafts. As I understand from various sources (the best of  
which are Asif Siddiqi's "The Almaz Space Station Complex: A History, 1964 -  
1992 (part 1 in this instance) in JBIS and Rex Hall and David Shayler's  "Soyuz: 
A Universal Spacecraft") the Soyuz 20 spacecraft was borrowed  from the Almaz 
11F615A9 series (specifically No. 64) to test the ability of an  upgraded 
Soyuz to remain docked to a station for 90 days (30 days longer than  its 
predecessors) and "compensation" for the Almaz program was made by  replacing it with 
a Soyuz from the 11F615A8 series (No. 41). 
 
1). Why? Was the 11F615A9 series already upgraded to stay in orbit for 90  
days? If not, then why weren't these upgrades made to Soyuz No. 41? 
 
2). In order to dock with the Almaz station the Igla on No. 41 would  need to 
have been altered to fold back to avoid a collision with the Almaz solar  
panels which, as I understand, is the main difference between the 11F615A8 and  
11F615A9. Would this alteration of the Igla have changed the Soyuz 20 to an  
11F615A9 classification? 
 
3). Specifically, what changes were made to allow the Soyuz to stay up an  
additional 30 days?
 
4). Does anyone here know of any diagram or photograph which shows the  
altered Igla system used on the 11F615A9?
 
As always, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
Best Regards,
 
David L. Rickman



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