# Soyuz 12

> crewed flight of the Soyuz programme

**Wikidata**: [Q543643](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q543643)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_12)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-12

## Summary

Soyuz 12 was a Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft[1].

## Summary
Soyuz 12 was a crewed flight of the Soviet Soyuz programme, launched on September 27, 1973, and returning on September 29, 1973, as part of the Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft.

## Key Facts
- Soyuz 12 was a crewed flight of the Soyuz programme, operated by the Soviet space program.
- It launched on September 27, 1973, from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start) and landed on September 29, 1973, in Kazakhstan.
- The spacecraft was of the Soyuz 7K-T class, a second-generation Soyuz spacecraft.
- The crew consisted of Vasily Lazarev (spacecraft commander) and Oleg Grigoryevich Makarov (flight engineer 1); a backup crew included Aleksei Gubarev and Georgy Grechko.
- It orbited Earth 31 times with an orbital period of 91 minutes, reaching an apoapsis of 348 km and periapsis of 306 km.
- The mission was significant for testing the Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft and restoring crewed Soyuz flights after the Soyuz 11 incident.

### FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz 12?
A: The crew included Vasily Lazarev as spacecraft commander and Oleg Grigoryevich Makarov as flight engineer 1; a backup crew was Aleksei Gubarev and Georgy Grechko.

### Q: When did Soyuz 12 launch and land?
A: Soyuz 12 launched on September 27, 1973, and landed on September 29, 1973.

### Q: What was the purpose of the Soyuz 12 mission?
A: It was a crewed flight to test the Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft and restore crewed Soyuz missions after the Soyuz 11 incident.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz 12 played a critical role in the Soviet space program by serving as a test flight for the Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft, which was a second-generation design. After the tragic Soyuz 11 mission (where three cosmonauts died during reentry), Soyuz 12 was launched to demonstrate the safety and functionality of the updated Soyuz 7K-T, which featured improved life support and reentry systems. This mission helped restore confidence in the Soyuz program and paved the way for future Salyut space station missions, as it was the first crewed Soyuz flight following the Soyuz 11 incident. The successful launch and return of Soyuz 12 marked a key step in the Soviet Union's human spaceflight program, ensuring the continuity of their space exploration efforts.

## Notable For
- First crewed Soyuz flight after the Soyuz 11 incident, testing the updated Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft.
- Achieved 31 orbits of Earth with an orbital period of 91 minutes.
- Featured the Soyuz 7K-T class, a second-generation Soyuz spacecraft designed for crewed missions.
- Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start, a historic launch site.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz 12 was a crewed spaceflight mission conducted by the Soviet Union as part of the Soyuz programme. It was the first crewed Soyuz flight following the Soyuz 11 incident, which resulted in the deaths of three cosmonauts during reentry. The primary objective was to test the Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft, a second-generation design, and restore crewed Soyuz operations.

### Launch and Flight Details
- **Launch Date**: September 27, 1973, from Baikonur Cosmodrome (specifically Gagarin's Start).
- **Landing Date**: September 29, 1973, in Kazakhstan.
- **Crew**: Vasily Lazarev (spacecraft commander) and Oleg Grigoryevich Makarov (flight engineer 1). A backup crew included Aleksei Gubarev (spacecraft commander) and Georgy Grechko (flight engineer 1).
- **Significant Events**: The mission included a rocket launch from Gagarin's Start on September 27, 1973, and a landing in Kazakhstan on September 29, 1973.

### Orbital Parameters
- **Orbital Period**: 91 minutes.
- **Apoapsis**: 348 km from Earth.
- **Periapsis**: 306 km from Earth.
- **Orbits Completed**: 31.

### Technical Specifications
- **Vessel**: Soyuz 7K-T.
- **Mass at Takeoff**: 6720 kilograms.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz.
- **Manufacturer**: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.
- **Country**: Soviet Union.

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz 12",
  "description": "crewed flight of the Soyuz programme",
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-12.htm)