# Soyuz T-8

> unsuccessful 1983 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Salyut 7

**Wikidata**: [Q780047](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q780047)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_T-8)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-t-8

## Summary
Soyuz T-8 was an unsuccessful Soviet crewed spaceflight launched on April 20, 1983, intended to dock with the Salyut 7 space station. Part of the Soyuz programme, the mission utilized a Soyuz-T spacecraft and a Soyuz-U launch vehicle but failed to complete its primary objective. The three-person crew returned to Earth on April 22, 1983, after completing 32 orbits.

## Key Facts
- **Mission Outcome:** Unsuccessful mission to Salyut 7.
- **Launch Date:** April 20, 1983.
- **Landing Date:** April 22, 1983.
- **Crew:** Vladimir Titov (Commander), Gennadi Strekalov (Flight Engineer 1), and Aleksandr Serebrov (Research Cosmonaut).
- **Spacecraft:** Soyuz-T (specific instance Soyuz T-8).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U.
- **Operator:** Soviet space program.
- **Call Sign:** Okean.
- **Orbits Completed:** 32.
- **Mission Duration:** 173,868 seconds (approximately 2 days).
- **Landing Location:** Kazakhstan.
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start).

## FAQs
### Q: Was the Soyuz T-8 mission successful?
A: No, Soyuz T-8 is explicitly described as an "unsuccessful 1983 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Salyut 7." While the launch and landing were executed, the mission failed to achieve its primary goal.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz T-8?
A: The crew consisted of Vladimir Titov as the spacecraft commander, Gennadi Strekalov as Flight Engineer 1, and Aleksandr Serebrov as the Research Cosmonaut.

### Q: When did Soyuz T-8 launch and land?
A: The mission launched on April 20, 1983, and landed back on Earth two days later on April 22, 1983.

### Q: What spacecraft and rocket models were used for this mission?
A: The mission used the Soyuz-T class spacecraft and was launched atop a Soyuz-U rocket.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz T-8 represents a notable event in the history of the Soviet Soyuz programme and the operation of the Salyut 7 space station. While the Soviet space program had a high success rate with the reliable Soyuz-T spacecraft, T-8 highlights the persistent risks associated with crewed spaceflight and orbital rendezvous. The mission's failure to dock with Salyut 7 disrupted the planned crew rotation and experimental schedule for the station. Despite the inability to dock, the safe return of the crew after a 48-hour flight demonstrated the effectiveness of the spacecraft's life support and re-entry systems under abort scenarios. The mission sits chronologically between Soyuz T-7 and Soyuz T-9, serving as a case study in the operational resilience of the Soviet space infrastructure in the early 1980s.

## Notable For
- Being designated an **unsuccessful** flight within the generally reliable Soyuz programme.
- Targeting the **Salyut 7** space station, a key Soviet orbital infrastructure project.
- Carrying a **three-person crew**: Vladimir Titov, Gennadi Strekalov, and Aleksandr Serebrov.
- Utilizing the **"Okean"** call sign during communications.
- Executing **32 orbits** around Earth before landing in Kazakhstan.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Outcome
Soyuz T-8 was a crewed spaceflight launched by the Soviet Union on April 20, 1983. It was an instance of the Soyuz-T spacecraft class and was operated by the Soviet space program as part of the broader Soyuz programme. The mission's primary objective was to transport a crew to the Salyut 7 space station. However, the mission is historically categorized as an "unsuccessful 1983 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Salyut 7."

The mission launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically from "Gagarin's Start." It landed in Kazakhstan on April 22, 1983.

### Spacecraft and Technical Specifications
The vessel used for this mission was the Soyuz-T, manufactured by the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.
- **Mass (Takeoff):** 6,850 kilograms.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U.
- **Orbital Parameters:**
  - **Periapsis:** 200 kilometres (Earth).
  - **Apoapsis:** 230 kilometres (Earth).
  - **Orbital Period:** 88.6 minutes.
  - **Orbital Inclination:** 51.6 degrees.
- **Satellite Of:** Low Earth orbit.

### Crew and Personnel
The mission carried a crew of three cosmonauts:
- **Vladimir Titov** (Spacecraft Commander)
- **Gennadi Strekalov** (Flight Engineer 1)
- **Aleksandr Serebrov** (Research Cosmonaut)

The backup or reserve team for the mission included:
- **Vladimir Lyakhov** (Spacecraft Commander)
- **Aleksandr Pavlovich Aleksandrov** (Flight Engineer 1)
- **Viktor Savinykh** (Research Cosmonaut)

### Chronology
- **Preceded by:** Soyuz T-7.
- **Followed by:** Soyuz T-9.
- **Significant Events:**
  - **Rocket Launch:** April 20, 1983, at Gagarin's Start.
  - **Landing:** April 22, 1983, in Kazakhstan.
- **Total Duration:** 173,868 seconds.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-t-8.htm)
4. BabelNet