# Soyuz MS-04

> Russian crewed flight to the ISS

**Wikidata**: [Q18401197](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18401197)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-04)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-ms-04

## Summary
Soyuz MS-04 was a Russian crewed spaceflight mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on April 20, 2017, carrying two astronauts: Fyodor Yurchikhin (commander) and Jack D. Fischer (flight engineer). It was part of the Soyuz programme and docked with the ISS to support Expedition 51, with Peggy Whitson joining the crew for landing. The mission concluded on September 3, 2017, after completing 2,176 orbits of Earth.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: April 20, 2017, from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-FG rocket.
- **Landing Date**: September 3, 2017, in Kazakhstan (coordinates: 47.3814° N, 69.5693° E).
- **Crew**: Fyodor Yurchikhin (commander), Jack D. Fischer (flight engineer), and Peggy Whitson (landing crew member).
- **Preceded By**: Soyuz MS-03; **Followed By**: Soyuz MS-05.
- **Orbits Completed**: 2,176 around Earth.
- **Spacecraft Type**: Soyuz MS, manufactured by RSC Energia and operated by Roscosmos.
- **Mission Duration**: Approximately 4.5 months.

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz MS-04?
A: The crew included Russian commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA flight engineer Jack D. Fischer. Peggy Whitson, who held the record for cumulative time in space, joined the landing phase.

### Q: What was the significance of Soyuz MS-04?
A: The mission supported Expedition 51 on the ISS, contributing to scientific research and station operations. It also marked Peggy Whitson’s record-breaking 665 days in space.

### Q: How long did the Soyuz MS-04 mission last?
A: The mission lasted from April 20 to September 3, 2017, completing 2,176 orbits of Earth.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz MS-04 played a critical role in maintaining continuous human presence on the ISS, enabling scientific research and international collaboration. As part of the Soyuz programme, it demonstrated Russia’s reliability in crewed spaceflight during a period of heavy reliance on Soyuz vehicles for ISS access. The mission also highlighted Peggy Whitson’s historic achievements, reinforcing her status as one of the most experienced astronauts in history. By ensuring crew rotation and resupply, Soyuz MS-04 supported the ongoing operations of the ISS, a cornerstone of global space exploration.

## Notable For
- Carried Peggy Whitson, who set the record for the most cumulative time in space by an American astronaut (665 days) upon landing.
- Part of Expedition 51, contributing to over 200 scientific investigations on the ISS.
- Utilized the modernized Soyuz MS spacecraft, featuring upgraded navigation and communication systems.
- Marked the 134th crewed Soyuz flight and the 35th mission to the ISS as part of the Soyuz programme.

## Body
### Launch and Spacecraft
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-FG rocket (launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 1).
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz MS-04 (serial number 42682), part of the Soyuz MS series, the latest revision of the Soyuz spacecraft.
- **Manufacturer**: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.

### Crew and Mission
- **Primary Crew**:
  - Fyodor Yurchikhin (Russia): Spacecraft commander and Expedition 51 flight engineer.
  - Jack D. Fischer (USA): Flight engineer 1 for Expedition 51.
- **Landing Crew**: Peggy Whitson (USA) joined the return journey, serving as flight engineer 2 during landing.

### Mission Highlights
- **Docking**: Attached to the ISS Poisk module on April 20, 2017.
- **Expedition 51**: Conducted research in biology, physics, and Earth science, including studies on bone loss in microgravity and atmospheric profiling.
- **Whitson’s Record**: Upon landing, Whitson surpassed the previous record for cumulative time in space by an American astronaut (665 days).

### Landing
- **Date/Time**: September 3, 2017, at 01:41 GMT.
- **Location**: Kazakhstan steppe (coordinates: 47.3814° N, 69.5693° E).
- **Recovery**: Crew retrieved by Russian search-and-rescue teams.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz MS-04",
  "description": "Russian crewed flight to the ISS",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-04",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29412499",
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Soyuz_MS-04"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Human spaceflight mission"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://astronaut.ru/register/shedule.htm)
3. [Source](http://russianspaceweb.com/soyuz-ms-04.html)
4. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-ms-04.htm)
5. [Source](http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-090217a-soyuz-ms04-landing-whitson-record.html)