# Soyuz TM-11

> 11th expedition to the Mir space station

**Wikidata**: [Q577280](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q577280)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-11)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-11

## Summary
Soyuz TM-11 was the 11th crewed expedition to the Mir space station, launching on December 2, 1990, and landing on May 26, 1991. It carried the first Japanese astronaut, Toyohiro Akiyama, and the first British astronaut, Helen Sharman, as part of its crew. The mission was operated by the Soviet space program using a Soyuz-TM spacecraft.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: December 2, 1990
- **Landing Date**: May 26, 1991
- **Crew**: Viktor Afanasyev (Commander), Musa Manarov (Flight Engineer), Toyohiro Akiyama (launched), Helen Sharman (landed)
- **Spacecraft Class**: Soyuz-TM (fourth generation)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U2 rocket
- **Country**: Soviet Union
- **Preceded By**: Soyuz TM-10
- **Followed By**: Soyuz TM-12
- **Orbital Period**: 92.2 minutes
- **Mass at Takeoff**: 7,150 kg

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the notable crew members of Soyuz TM-11?
A: The crew included the first Japanese astronaut, Toyohiro Akiyama, and the first British astronaut, Helen Sharman, alongside Soviet cosmonauts Viktor Afanasyev and Musa Manarov.

### Q: How long was the Soyuz TM-11 mission?
A: The mission lasted approximately 151,266,641 seconds (about 175 days), completing 2,735 orbits of Earth.

### Q: What was the significance of Soyuz TM-11 in space history?
A: It marked the first spaceflight for Japan (Akiyama) and the United Kingdom (Sharman) as part of a Soviet-led mission, symbolizing international collaboration during the final years of the Soviet Union.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-11 played a critical role in sustaining operations aboard the Mir space station during a pivotal moment in space exploration history. The mission demonstrated the Soviet Union’s capability to conduct long-duration spaceflights and highlighted emerging international partnerships, notably with Japan and the United Kingdom. As the 11th expedition to Mir, it contributed to the cumulative knowledge gained from the station’s decade-long operation, paving the way for future collaborative projects like the International Space Station. The inclusion of non-Soviet crew members also underscored the gradual shift toward global cooperation in space, even amid geopolitical tensions.

## Notable For
- First Japanese astronaut in space (Toyohiro Akiyama).
- First British astronaut in space (Helen Sharman), part of Project Juno.
- Long-duration mission (175 days) supporting Mir operations.
- Utilized the Soyuz-TM spacecraft, a fourth-generation model designed for Mir missions.
- Launched during the final year of the Soviet Union’s existence.

## Body
### Mission Overview
- **Launch**: December 2, 1990, from Baikonur Cosmodrome’s "Gagarin’s Start" (Site 1/5).
- **Landing**: May 26, 1991, in Kazakhstan.
- **Duration**: 151,266,641 seconds (~175 days).
- **Orbits Completed**: 2,735.

### Crew
- **Viktor Afanasyev**: Commander (Soviet Union).
- **Musa Manarov**: Flight Engineer (Soviet Union).
- **Toyohiro Akiyama**: Research Cosmonaut (Japan), launched with the crew.
- **Helen Sharman**: Research Cosmonaut (UK), landed with the crew as part of Project Juno.

### Spacecraft & Rocket
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TM (serial number 61), designed for Mir dockings.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U2 rocket (fourth generation of the Soyuz rocket family).

### Orbital Details
- **Periapsis**: 367 km.
- **Apoapsis**: 400 km.
- **Inclination**: 51.64°.
- **Orbital Period**: 92.2 minutes.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SpaceMission",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-11",
  "description": "11th expedition to the Mir space station",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-11",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2423723",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-11"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Soyuz-TM",
  "operator": "Soviet space program",
  "launchDate": "1990-12-02",
  "landingDate": "1991-05-26",
  "crew": [
    "Viktor Afanasyev",
    "Musa Manarov",
    "Toyohiro Akiyama",
    "Helen Sharman"
  ],
  "launchVehicle": "Soyuz-U2",
  "satelliteOf": "Earth",
  "orbitalPeriod": "PT92.2M"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tm-11.htm)