Soyuz 7K-MF6 is a version of the Soyuz spacecraft and was the second Soviet spacecraft designed for space station flight, a dedicated science mission.

Soyuz 7K-MF6 propulsion was from a KTDU-80, liquid rocket engine.

The multi-spectral camera was manufactured by Carl Zeiss-Jena in East Germany.

The universal docking port was removed and a multispectral camera was installed in its place.

The observatory equipment was added to the top of nose cone of the spacecraft.