# Soyuz TM-16

> expedition to the Russian Space Station Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q1540599](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1540599)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-16)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-16

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for Soyuz TM-16:

---

## Summary
Soyuz TM-16 was a 1993 Russian crewed spaceflight to the Mir space station. It transported two cosmonauts and a research cosmonaut, marking the 16th expedition to Mir. The mission lasted 179 days and completed 2,790 orbits around Earth.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: January 24, 1993, from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start.  
- **Landing Date**: July 22, 1993, in Kazakhstan.  
- **Crew**: Gennady Manakov (commander), Aleksandr Poleshchuk (Flight Engineer 1), and Jean-Pierre Haigneré (Research Cosmonaut, landing only).  
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TM (fourth-generation Soyuz).  
- **Carrier Rocket**: Soyuz-U2.  
- **Mass**: 7,150 kg (takeoff).  
- **Orbital Parameters**: 393 km periapsis, 394 km apoapsis, 51.64° inclination.  
- **Duration**: 179 days (15,468,225 seconds).  
- **Orbits Completed**: 2,790.  
- **Preceded/Succeeded By**: Soyuz TM-15 (predecessor), Soyuz TM-17 (successor).  

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-16?
A: The crew included Gennady Manakov as commander, Aleksandr Poleshchuk as Flight Engineer 1, and Jean-Pierre Haigneré as Research Cosmonaut (joining for landing).

### Q: How long did Soyuz TM-16 stay in orbit?
A: The mission lasted 179 days, from January 24 to July 22, 1993, completing 2,790 orbits around Earth.

### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TM-16?
A: It delivered crew and supplies to the Mir space station, continuing Russia's long-duration human spaceflight program.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-16 was a critical mission in maintaining Russia's presence aboard the Mir space station, demonstrating the reliability of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft for crew rotations. It also marked Jean-Pierre Haigneré's participation, highlighting international collaboration in space. The mission's success reinforced Russia's capabilities in long-duration spaceflight, paving the way for future Mir expeditions and the International Space Station program.

## Notable For
- **First Soyuz-TM mission** after the dissolution of the Soviet Union (under Russia's Roscosmos).  
- **Carried Jean-Pierre Haigneré**, a French research cosmonaut, emphasizing international cooperation.  
- **Long-duration mission**: One of many 6-month stays on Mir, proving human adaptability to space.  

## Body
### Mission Overview
- Launched: January 24, 1993, aboard a Soyuz-U2 rocket.  
- Landed: July 22, 1993, in Kazakhstan.  
- Operator: Roscosmos State Corporation.  

### Technical Specifications
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TM (mass: 7,150 kg).  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (393 km × 394 km, 51.64° inclination).  
- **Orbital Period**: 92.4 minutes.  

### Crew Roles
- Gennady Manakov: Spacecraft commander.  
- Aleksandr Poleshchuk: Flight Engineer 1.  
- Jean-Pierre Haigneré: Research Cosmonaut (joined for landing).  

### Significant Events
- **Launch**: From Gagarin's Start, Baikonur Cosmodrome.  
- **Landing**: In Kazakhstan after 179 days.  

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-16",
  "description": "1993 Russian crewed spaceflight to the Mir space station.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11920",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-16"
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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-16.htm)