# Soyuz TM-20

> Spaceflight mission to Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q700126](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q700126)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-20)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-20

## Summary  
Soyuz TM-20 was a 1994 Russian crewed spaceflight mission to the Mir space station. It launched on October 3, 1994, and returned on March 22, 1995, carrying a crew of three, including the first female Russian cosmonaut to complete a long-duration spaceflight. The mission was part of the Soyuz programme and used the Soyuz-TM spacecraft.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: October 3, 1994, from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start.  
- **Landing Date**: March 22, 1995, in Kazakhstan.  
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TM, a fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft.  
- **Crew**: Aleksandr Viktorenko (commander), Yelena Kondakova (Flight Engineer 1), and Ulf Merbold (Research Cosmonaut); Valeri Polyakov joined for landing.  
- **Mass**: 7,170 kg at takeoff.  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit with an apoapsis of 394 km and periapsis of 392 km.  
- **Duration**: 14620895 seconds (~169 days).  
- **Orbits Completed**: 2,760.  
- **Preceded by**: Soyuz TM-19; **Followed by**: Soyuz TM-21.  

## FAQs  
### Q: Who was on board Soyuz TM-20?  
A: The crew included Aleksandr Viktorenko (commander), Yelena Kondakova (Flight Engineer 1), and Ulf Merbold (Research Cosmonaut). Valeri Polyakov joined for the return trip.  

### Q: How long did Soyuz TM-20 stay in space?  
A: The mission lasted approximately 169 days, from October 3, 1994, to March 22, 1995.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TM-20?  
A: It transported crew and supplies to the Mir space station, supporting long-duration missions and scientific research.  

## Why It Matters  
Soyuz TM-20 was significant for several reasons. It marked the first long-duration spaceflight by a female Russian cosmonaut, Yelena Kondakova, highlighting advancements in gender inclusivity in space exploration. The mission also contributed to the ongoing operations of the Mir space station, a cornerstone of Russian space science. Additionally, it demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft, which became a workhorse for crewed missions. The inclusion of international crew members, like Germany's Ulf Merbold, underscored the collaborative nature of space exploration.  

## Notable For  
- First long-duration spaceflight by a female Russian cosmonaut (Yelena Kondakova).  
- Part of the Soyuz programme, a key component of Russian space missions.  
- Demonstrated the Soyuz-TM spacecraft's reliability for crewed missions.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
Soyuz TM-20 launched on October 3, 1994, from Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-U2 rocket. It docked with the Mir space station, delivering crew and supplies.  

### Crew Details  
- **Aleksandr Viktorenko**: Spacecraft commander.  
- **Yelena Kondakova**: Flight Engineer 1, notable as the first Russian woman to complete a long-duration mission.  
- **Ulf Merbold**: Research Cosmonaut (German), part of the launch crew.  
- **Valeri Polyakov**: Joined for landing, having completed a record-long stay on Mir.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass**: 7,170 kg at takeoff.  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (394 km apoapsis, 392 km periapsis, 51.65° inclination).  
- **Duration**: ~169 days, completing 2,760 orbits.  

### Significant Events  
- **Launch**: October 3, 1994, from Gagarin's Start.  
- **Landing**: March 22, 1995, in Kazakhstan.  

## Schema Markup  
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-20",
  "description": "A 1994 Russian crewed spaceflight mission to the Mir space station.",
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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-20.htm)