# Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L

> unsuccessful crewed flight of the Soyuz programme

**Wikidata**: [Q847047](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q847047)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_7K-ST_No.16L)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-7k-st-no-16l

## Summary
Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L, also known as Soyuz T-10-1 or Soyuz T-10a, was an unsuccessful crewed spaceflight of the Soviet Soyuz programme. Launched on September 26, 1983, the mission utilized a Soyuz-T spacecraft intended to carry a crew of two to the Salyut 7 space station. The flight ended in failure shortly after liftoff, resulting in a mission duration of only 313 seconds.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Unsuccessful crewed flight; instance of a Soyuz-T human spaceflight.
- **Launch Date:** September 26, 1983.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U rocket.
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome (specifically Gagarin's Start).
- **Spacecraft Mass:** 6,850 kilograms at takeoff.
- **Crew:** Vladimir Titov (Commander) and Gennadi Strekalov (Flight Engineer).
- **Mission Duration:** 313 seconds.
- **Call Sign:** Okean (Ocean).
- **Operator:** Soviet space program.
- **Manufacturer:** S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.
- **Follows:** Soyuz T-9.
- **Followed by:** Soyuz T-10.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the outcome of the Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L mission?
A: The mission is officially classified as an unsuccessful crewed flight. It had a total duration of only 313 seconds, indicating a failure during the launch phase.

### Q: Who were the crew members assigned to Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L?
A: The two-man crew consisted of Vladimir Titov, serving as the spacecraft commander, and Gennadi Strekalov, serving as the Flight Engineer 1.

### Q: What spacecraft and rocket models were used for this flight?
A: The mission used the Soyuz-T spacecraft model (specifically No. 16L) and was launched atop a Soyuz-U rocket.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L represents a critical safety event in the history of the Soviet space program. While the source material defines the flight strictly as "unsuccessful" with a duration of roughly five minutes (313 seconds), the brevity of the flight and the presence of a crew highlight the critical role of launch abort systems. The mission serves as a historical data point for the reliability of the Soyuz-U rocket and the Soyuz-T spacecraft, illustrating the risks inherent in human spaceflight.

The event is significant for aerospace engineers and historians studying the evolution of crew safety protocols. Despite the rocket failure, the mission is part of the continuous timeline of the Soyuz programme, bridging the gap between the successful Soyuz T-9 and the subsequent Soyuz T-10 mission.

## Notable For
- **Short Duration:** A completed mission duration of only 313 seconds, contrasting sharply with standard orbital missions.
- **Mission Status:** Explicitly classified as an "unsuccessful crewed flight."
- **Nomenclature:** Known by multiple designations, including the technical "Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L" and the common "Soyuz T-10-1" or "Soyuz T-10a."
- **Launch Complex:** Launched from "Gagarin's Start," the historic pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome used for the first human spaceflight.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L was a mission under the umbrella of the Soviet Soyuz programme. Scheduled to follow Soyuz T-9, it was designed to transport crew to a space station. The spacecraft was a Soyuz-T class vessel manufactured by the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia. The launch took place on September 26, 1983, utilizing the Soyuz-U launch vehicle configuration.

### Crew and Personnel
The flight was operated by the Soviet space program with a crew of two cosmonauts:
*   **Vladimir Titov:** Spacecraft Commander
*   **Gennadi Strekalov:** Flight Engineer 1
The crew utilized the call sign "Okean" (Ocean) during the mission.

### Technical Specifications
*   **Spacecraft Model:** Soyuz-T
*   **Launch Mass:** 6,850 kg
*   **Rocket:** Soyuz-U (Universal variant)
*   **Launch Location:** Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start)

### Flight Profile and Conclusion
The mission is recorded as a significant event involving a rocket launch on September 26, 1983. However, the flight did not achieve its intended orbital trajectory, resulting in a total flight time of 313 seconds. The mission is listed in records as a "human spaceflight" but is distinct for its failure to complete standard operations. The program continued with the launch of Soyuz T-10 at a later date.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013