# Soyuz TM-22

> Soviet 1995 spacecraft mission to Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q700729](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q700729)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-22)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-22

## Summary
Soyuz TM-22 was a Russian human spaceflight mission launched on September 3, 1995, to the Mir space station. The mission utilized a Soyuz-TM class spacecraft and carried a crew of three, including an international flight engineer. It concluded with a landing in Kazakhstan on September 29, 1996.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** September 3, 1995
- **Landing Date:** September 29, 1996
- **Mission Duration:** 15,471,705 seconds
- **Crew:** Yuri Guidzenko (spacecraft commander), Sergey Avdeyev (Flight Engineer 1), Thomas Reiter (Flight Engineer 2)
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U2
- **Spacecraft Type:** Soyuz-TM class human spaceflight
- **Operator:** Roscosmos State Corporation
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start)
- **Landing Location:** Kazakhstan
- **Takeoff Mass:** 7,150 kilograms

## FAQs
### Q: When did Soyuz TM-22 launch and land?
A: Soyuz TM-22 launched on September 3, 1995, and landed on September 29, 1996. The mission had a total duration of 15,471,705 seconds.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-22?
A: The crew of Soyuz TM-22 consisted of Yuri Guidzenko, who served as the spacecraft commander, Sergey Avdeyev as Flight Engineer 1, and Thomas Reiter as Flight Engineer 2.

### Q: What type of spacecraft and launch vehicle were used for Soyuz TM-22?
A: Soyuz TM-22 was a human spaceflight mission using a Soyuz-TM class spacecraft. It was launched into orbit by a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket.

### Q: Where did the Soyuz TM-22 mission launch from and land?
A: The Soyuz TM-22 mission launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically from Gagarin's Start. Its landing occurred in Kazakhstan.

### Q: What were the orbital characteristics of Soyuz TM-22?
A: Soyuz TM-22 orbited Earth with an apoapsis of 340 kilometers and a periapsis of 339 kilometers. It had an orbital inclination of 51.64 degrees and completed 2800 orbits with an orbital period of 92.2 minutes.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-22 was a significant mission as part of the ongoing Soyuz programme, playing a crucial role in maintaining human presence aboard the Mir space station. As a long-duration human spaceflight, it demonstrated the capabilities of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft for extended missions and crew rotations. The inclusion of Thomas Reiter as an international Flight Engineer highlighted growing international cooperation in space exploration, a precursor to future multinational endeavors like the International Space Station. The mission contributed valuable data and experience to space station operations, crew health in microgravity, and the logistical challenges of supporting a permanent orbital outpost. Its successful launch, extended stay in low Earth orbit, and safe return underscored the reliability of Russian space technology during a pivotal period for space exploration.

## Notable For
- **International Crew Member:** Included Thomas Reiter as Flight Engineer 2, an international crew member.
- **Long Duration Mission:** Operated for 15,471,705 seconds, demonstrating extended human presence in space.
- **Support for Mir Space Station:** A key mission for crew rotation and operations of the Mir space station.
- **Soyuz-TM Class Spacecraft:** Utilized a fourth-generation Soyuz-TM spacecraft, known for its reliability.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Soyuz TM-22 was a human spaceflight mission operated by Roscosmos State Corporation. It launched on September 3, 1995, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically from Gagarin's Start. The mission concluded with a landing in Kazakhstan on September 29, 1996. The total duration of the mission was 15,471,705 seconds.

### Crew
The crew for Soyuz TM-22 consisted of three members:
-   **Yuri Guidzenko:** Spacecraft Commander
-   **Sergey Avdeyev:** Flight Engineer 1
-   **Thomas Reiter:** Flight Engineer 2

### Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle
The mission utilized a Soyuz-TM class vessel, which is part of the fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft. The spacecraft had a takeoff mass of 7,150 kilograms. It was launched into low Earth orbit by a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket.

### Orbital Parameters
Soyuz TM-22 achieved an orbit around Earth with the following characteristics:
-   **Apoapsis:** 340 kilometers
-   **Periapsis:** 339 kilometers
-   **Orbital Inclination:** 51.64 degrees
-   **Orbital Period:** 92.2 minutes
-   **Orbits Completed:** 2800

### Mission Context
Soyuz TM-22 was part of the broader Soyuz programme. It was preceded by the Soyuz TM-21 mission, a 1995 spaceflight to the Russian space station Mir, and was followed by the Soyuz TM-23 mission, a 1996 mission to the Soviet space station Mir. The mission's COSPAR ID was 1995-047A.

### Significant Events
-   **Rocket Launch:** Occurred on September 3, 1995, from Gagarin's Start at Baikonur Cosmodrome.
-   **Landing:** Occurred on September 29, 1996, in Kazakhstan, at coordinates 51.38 latitude, 67.45 longitude.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Spacecraft",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-22",
  "description": "Russian human spaceflight mission to the Mir space station, launched in 1995.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-22",
    "http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q23665",
    "http://www.freebase.com/m/03h4m8"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Thing",
  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Soyuz_TM-22_Crew_Portrait.jpg",
  "startDate": "1995-09-03",
  "endDate": "1996-09-29",
  "operator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Roscosmos State Corporation"
  },
  "countryOfOrigin": "Russia",
  "mass": {
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    "unitCode": "KGM"
  },
  "identifier": "1995-047A"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tm-22.htm)