Early Soviet space stations that paved the way for Mir and the ISS.
The Salyut program consisted of a series of early Soviet space stations launched in the 1970s and 1980s. They tested key technologies for living and working in orbit, and they served as precursors to Mir.
Each Salyut station hosted crews for days to months, carrying out scientific investigations and proving the viability of long-term spaceflight.
Stations: Salyut 1 through 7 (and related platforms)
Role: Early space laboratories and habitats
Salyut stations introduced modular ideas, docking practices, and life-support experience that were later expanded for Mir and the International Space Station.