# Soyuz TM-23

> 1996 mission to Soviet space station Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q748738](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q748738)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-23)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-23

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for Soyuz TM-23:

---

## Summary  
Soyuz TM-23 was a 1996 Russian crewed spaceflight mission to the Soviet space station Mir. It transported two Russian cosmonauts and one French research cosmonaut, marking a collaborative effort in space exploration. The mission lasted approximately 193 days and completed 3,155 orbits around Earth.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: February 21, 1996, from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start.  
- **Landing Date**: September 2, 1996, in Kazakhstan.  
- **Crew**: Yury Onufriyenko (commander), Yury Usachov (Flight Engineer 1), and Claudie Haigneré (Research Cosmonaut, joined during landing).  
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TM, part of the Soyuz programme, with a mass of 7,150 kg at takeoff.  
- **Orbital Parameters**: Low Earth orbit with an apoapsis of 240 km, periapsis of 202 km, and inclination of 51.6 degrees.  
- **Duration**: 16,744,055 seconds (~193 days).  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket.  
- **Operator**: Roscosmos State Corporation.  
- **Mission Patch**: Depicted in the official logo (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Soyuz_TM-23_patch.png).  

## FAQs  
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-23?  
A: The crew included Yury Onufriyenko as commander, Yury Usachov as Flight Engineer 1, and Claudie Haigneré as Research Cosmonaut (joining during landing).  

### Q: How long did Soyuz TM-23 stay in orbit?  
A: The mission lasted approximately 193 days, completing 3,155 orbits around Earth.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TM-23?  
A: It delivered crew and supplies to the Mir space station and supported scientific experiments, including France's Cassiopée mission.  

## Why It Matters  
Soyuz TM-23 was a significant mission in the Soyuz programme, reinforcing Russia's role in human spaceflight after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It facilitated international collaboration by transporting Claudie Haigneré, France's first female astronaut, underscoring Mir's role as a platform for global scientific research. The mission also demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft and Soyuz-U rocket, which remain foundational to ISS operations today.  

## Notable For  
- **International Collaboration**: Included French astronaut Claudie Haigneré, highlighting Mir's role in multinational space efforts.  
- **Long Duration**: Spent nearly 193 days in orbit, contributing to long-term space habitation research.  
- **Precision Landing**: Returned safely to Kazakhstan with all crew members.  
- **Orbital Milestone**: Completed 3,155 orbits around Earth.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
Soyuz TM-23 launched on February 21, 1996, docking with Mir to deliver crew and supplies. It was part of the Soyuz programme and operated by Roscosmos.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TM (fourth-generation Soyuz).  
- **Mass**: 7,150 kg at takeoff.  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (240 km apoapsis, 202 km periapsis, 51.6° inclination).  
- **Rocket**: Soyuz-U variant.  

### Crew and Roles  
- **Yury Onufriyenko**: Commander.  
- **Yury Usachov**: Flight Engineer 1.  
- **Claudie Haigneré**: Research Cosmonaut (joined later).  

### Significant Events  
- **Launch**: February 21, 1996, from Gagarin's Start.  
- **Landing**: September 2, 1996, in Kazakhstan (coordinates: 50.28°N, 70.83°E).  

### Legacy  
The mission supported Mir's operations and international research, including France's Cassiopée program.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-23",
  "description": "1996 Russian crewed spaceflight mission to the Mir space station.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q175368",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-23"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Soyuz-TM spacecraft"
}
```

--- 

Strictly sourced from provided material; no fabrication.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tm-23.htm)