The Soyuz-T (Russian: Союз-T, Union-T) spacecraft was the third generation Soyuz spacecraft, in service for seven years from 1979 to 1986. The T stood for transport (транспортный, Transportny). The revised spacecraft incorporated lessons learned from the Apollo Soyuz Test Project, Soyuz 7K-TM and Military Soyuz.
 Soyuz-T spacecraft | |
| Manufacturer | Korolev |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USSR |
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| Applications | Carry three cosmonauts to Salyut and Mir space stations and back |
| Specifications | |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Production | |
| Status | Out of service |
| Launched | 18 |
| Maiden launch | 4 April 1978 (Kosmos 1001) |
| Last launch | 16 March 1986 (Soyuz T-15) |
| Related spacecraft | |
| Derived from | Soyuz 7K-TM (Soyuz 7K-T) Military Soyuz |
| Derivatives | Soyuz-TM |
The Soyuz-T was a major upgrade over previous Soyuz spacecraft, sporting solid-state electronics for the first time and a much more advanced onboard computer to help overcome the chronic docking problems that affected cosmonauts during space station missions. In addition, solar panels returned, allowing the Soyuz-T to fly up to 11 days independently as well as a redesigned propulsion system, the KTDU-426. Finally, it could carry three cosmonauts with pressure suits.
Missions edit
| Mission | Crew | Notes | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kosmos 1001 | None | [1] | 11 days |
| Kosmos 1074 | None | Last Soyuz spacecraft with a Kosmos designation[1] | 60 days |
| Soyuz T-1 | None | Uncrewed test flight to Salyut 6[1] | 100 days |
| Soyuz T-2 |  Yury Malyshev Vladimir Aksyonov |
Crewed test flight. Delivered the EP-6 crew to Salyut 6[2] | 4 days |
| Soyuz T-3 | Leonid Kizim Oleg Makarov Gennady Strekalov |
Delivered the EO-5 crew to Salyut 6. First Soyuz mission with a three cosmonaut crew since the fatal flight of Soyuz 11[3] | 13 days |
| Soyuz T-4 | Vladimir Kovalyonok Viktor Savinykh |
Delivered the EO-6 crew to Salyut 6[4] | 75 days |
| Soyuz T-5 | Anatoli Berezovoy Valentin Lebedev |
Delivered the EO-1 crew to Salyut 7. Both Berezovoy and Lebedev returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-7 after 211 days in space[5] | 106 days |
| Soyuz T-6 | Vladimir Dzhanibekov Aleksandr Ivanchenkov Jean-Loup Chrétien |
Delivered the EP-1 crew to Salyut 7. Chrétien becomes the first French citizen in space[6] | 8 days |
| Soyuz T-7 | Leonid Popov Aleksandr Serebrov Svetlana Savitskaya |
Delivered the EP-2 crew to Salyut 7. Savitskaya becomes the second woman in space after Valentina Tereshkova in 1963. All cosmonauts returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-5 after 8 days in space[7] | 113 days |
| Soyuz T-8 | Vladimir Titov Gennady Strekalov Aleksandr Serebrov |
Failed to reach Salyut 7 after its Igla docking system was damaged during launch[8] | 2 days |
| Soyuz T-9 | Vladimir Lyakhov Aleksandr Aleksandrov |
Delivered the EO-2 crew to Salyut 7[9] | 149 days |
| Soyuz T-10-1 | Vladimir Titov Gennadi Strekalov |
Failed to reach Salyut 7 after its carrier rocket caught fire and exploded, thus activating its launch escape system[10] | 5 minutes and 13 seconds |
| Soyuz T-10 | Leonid Kizim Vladimir Solovyov Oleg Atkov |
Delivered the EO-3 crew to Salyut 7. All cosmonauts returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-11 after 237 days in space[11] | 63 days |
| Soyuz T-11 | Yuri Malyshev Gennady Strekalov Rakesh Sharma |
Delivered the EP-3 crew to Salyut 7. Sharma becomes first Indian citizen in space. All cosmonauts returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-10 after 8 days in space[12] | 182 days |
| Soyuz T-12 | Vladimir Dzhanibekov Svetlana Savitskaya Igor Volk |
Delivered the EP-4 crew to Salyut 7[13] | 12 days |
| Soyuz T-13 | Vladimir Dzhanibekov Viktor Savinykh |
Delivered the EO-4a crew to Salyut 7. Repaired the crippled station during their stay. Savinykh returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-14 after 168 days in space[14] | 112 days |
| Soyuz T-14 | Vladimir Vasyutin Georgi Grechko Alexander Volkov |
Delivered the EO-4b and EP-5 crew to Salyut 7. Grechko returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-13 after 9 days in space. Mission ended prematurely after Vasyutin fell ill aboard the station[15] | 65 days |
| Soyuz T-15 | Leonid Kizim Vladimir Solovyov |
Delivered the EO-5/1 crew to Salyut 7 and Mir. Only crewed spaceflight to visit two space stations simultaneously[16] | 125 days |
References edit
- ^ a b c Mark Wade. "Soyuz T". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-2". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-3". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-4". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-5". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-6". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-7". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-8". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-9". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Suborbital spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-10A". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-10". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-11". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-12". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-13". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-14". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-15". SPACEFACTS.de. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Soyuz spacecraft.
- RSC Energia: Concept Of Russian Manned Space Navigation Development
- Mir Hardware Heritage
- David S.F. Portree, Mir Hardware Heritage, NASA RP-1357, 1995
- Mir Hardware Heritage (wikisource)
- Information on Soyuz spacecraft
- OMWorld's ASTP Docking Trainer Page
- NASA - Russian Soyuz TMA Spacecraft Details
- Space Adventures circum-lunar mission - details