Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 128

Soyuz TM-9

Rodnik

USSR

Patch MIR

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  11.02.1990
Launch time:  06:16 UTC
Launch site:  Baikonur
Launch pad:  1
Altitude:  350 km
Inclination:  51,6°
Docking MIR:  13.02.1990, 06:37:47 UTC
Undocking MIR:  09.08.1990, 04:08:49 UTC
Landing date:  09.08.1990
Landing time:  07:33 UTC
Landing site:  50° 51' N, 67° 17' E
Crew Soyuz TM-9

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alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position Flight No. Duration Orbits
1 USSR  Soloviyov  Anatoli Yakovlevich  Commander 2 179d 01h 17m  2833 
2 USSR  Balandin  Aleksandr Nikolayevich  Flight Engineer 1 179d 01h 17m  2833 

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1  Soloviyov
2  Balandin
Soyuz TM spaceship
Landing
1  Soloviyov
2  Balandin

Animations: Soyuz

Launch deorbit entry
(requires Macromedia Flash Player)
with friendly permission of www.marscenter.it

Double Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
1 USSR  Manakov  Gennadi Mikhailovich  Commander
2 USSR  Strekalov  Gennadi Mikhailovich  Flight Engineer
Crew Soyuz TM-9 (double)

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Flight

Launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome; landing 72 km northeast of Arkalyk.

Following a two day solo flight the Soyuz docked with the Soyuz TM-8-MIR-Kvant-Kvant2 complex on February 13, 1990. The sixth resident crew take turning the fifth resident crew.

Supplies were brought to the station with several cargo spaceships of type Progress. Module Kristall (with food containers and the industrial processing units Krater 3, Optizon 1, Zona 02, and Zona 03.) docked with the station on June 10, 1990.

The crew conducted an extensive programme of geophysical and astrophysical research, experiments on biology and biotechnology and work on space materials science. They started the commercial production of crystal in highest quality for an US electronic company. A protein grow experiment was also profitable (25 Million Rubel).

The cosmonauts performed an EVA on July 17, 1990 (7h 16m) in which spacecraft Soyuz TM-9 was repaired (three of the eight thermal blankets (layers of foil vacuum shield insulation) on the descent module of the approaching Soyuz-TM 9 spacecraft had come loose from their attachments near the heat shield, yet remained attached at their top ends). At the end of this EVA there have been problems because of a damage of Kvant2 module hatch. The hatch couldn't be closed, so the cosmonauts were forced to use the emergency airlock of the central compartment of Kvant. Another EVA was conducted on July 26, 1990 (3h 31m) to repair the hatch failed.

Photos / Drawings

MIR since 06.12.1989 MIR since 10.06.1990
Soyuz TM-9 launch MIR
Soyuz TM-9 onboard MIR Soyuz TM-9 onboard MIR
Soyuz TM-9 onboard MIR Soyuz TM-9 onboard MIR
Soyuz TM-9 onboard MIR Soyuz TM-9 onboard MIR
Soyuz TM-9 onboard MIR Soyuz TM-9 recovery

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Last update on January 14, 2012.

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