# Soyuz TM-12

> 1991 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q677528](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q677528)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-12)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-12

## Summary
Soyuz TM-12 was a 1991 Soviet crewed spaceflight to the Mir space station, marking the 12th expedition in the Soyuz program. It transported a multinational crew, including the first British astronaut, Helen Sharman, and conducted scientific research during its mission.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: May 18, 1991, from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start).
- **Landing Date**: October 10, 1991, in Kazakhstan.
- **Crew**: Anatoly Artsebarsky (commander), Sergei Krikalev (Flight Engineer 1), Helen Sharman (Research Cosmonaut), Toktar Aubakirov (Flight Engineer 1, landing), and Franz Viehböck (Research Cosmonaut, landing).
- **Duration**: 12,496,910 seconds (approximately 144 days).
- **Orbital Parameters**: Apoapsis of 397 km, periapsis of 389 km, inclination of 51.64 degrees, and an orbital period of 92.4 minutes.
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TM class, mass of 7,160 kg at takeoff.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket.
- **Mission**: Part of the Soyuz programme, following Soyuz TM-11 and preceding Soyuz TM-13.
- **Significant Events**: First British astronaut (Helen Sharman) and first Austrian astronaut (Franz Viehböck) in space.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TM-12?
A: Soyuz TM-12 was a crewed mission to the Mir space station, aimed at conducting scientific research and transporting crew members, including the first British and Austrian astronauts.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-12?
A: The crew included Anatoly Artsebarsky (commander), Sergei Krikalev (Flight Engineer 1), Helen Sharman (Research Cosmonaut), Toktar Aubakirov (Flight Engineer 1, landing), and Franz Viehböck (Research Cosmonaut, landing).

### Q: How long did the Soyuz TM-12 mission last?
A: The mission lasted approximately 144 days, from May 18, 1991, to October 10, 1991.

### Q: What was significant about the crew of Soyuz TM-12?
A: The mission included Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, and Franz Viehböck, the first Austrian astronaut, making it a notable multinational mission.

### Q: What spacecraft and launch vehicle were used for Soyuz TM-12?
A: The mission used a Soyuz-TM spacecraft, launched by a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-12 was a significant mission in the history of space exploration, particularly for its multinational crew. It marked the first time British and Austrian astronauts traveled to space, highlighting the growing international collaboration in space missions. The mission contributed to scientific research on the Mir space station and demonstrated the reliability and versatility of the Soyuz spacecraft. Additionally, it played a crucial role in the ongoing operations and experiments conducted on Mir, which was a key platform for long-duration spaceflight research.

## Notable For
- **First British Astronaut**: Helen Sharman became the first British astronaut to travel to space.
- **First Austrian Astronaut**: Franz Viehböck was the first Austrian astronaut to participate in a space mission.
- **Multinational Crew**: The mission included crew members from the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and Austria.
- **Long-Duration Mission**: The mission lasted approximately 144 days, contributing to long-duration spaceflight research.
- **Scientific Research**: Conducted various scientific experiments and research on the Mir space station.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz TM-12 was launched on May 18, 1991, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, using a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket. The mission was part of the Soyuz programme, which aimed to transport crew members to and from the Mir space station.

### Crew Members
- **Anatoly Artsebarsky**: Served as the spacecraft commander.
- **Sergei Krikalev**: Served as Flight Engineer 1 during takeoff.
- **Helen Sharman**: Served as a Research Cosmonaut and was the first British astronaut.
- **Toktar Aubakirov**: Served as Flight Engineer 1 during landing.
- **Franz Viehböck**: Served as a Research Cosmonaut during landing and was the first Austrian astronaut.

### Mission Details
- **Duration**: The mission lasted approximately 144 days, from May 18, 1991, to October 10, 1991.
- **Orbital Parameters**: The spacecraft had an apoapsis of 397 km, a periapsis of 389 km, an inclination of 51.64 degrees, and an orbital period of 92.4 minutes.
- **Spacecraft**: The Soyuz-TM spacecraft had a mass of 7,160 kg at takeoff.
- **Orbits Completed**: The mission completed 2,260 orbits around Earth.

### Significant Events
- **Launch**: The spacecraft was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 18, 1991.
- **Landing**: The spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan on October 10, 1991.
- **Scientific Research**: The crew conducted various scientific experiments and research on the Mir space station.

### Legacy
Soyuz TM-12 is notable for its multinational crew and the historic participation of the first British and Austrian astronauts. The mission contributed to the ongoing research and operations on the Mir space station, advancing our understanding of long-duration spaceflight.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-12",
  "description": "1991 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Mir",
  "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Soyuz_TM-12_Crew_Portrait.jpg",
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## References

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