# Soyuz TM-25

> 1997 Russian crewed spaceflight to Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q516698](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q516698)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-25)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-25

## Summary
Soyuz TM-25 was a 1997 Russian crewed spaceflight to the Mir space station, launched on February 10, 1997, and returning on August 14, 1997. It was the 25th mission of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft and part of the Soyuz programme, operated by Roscosmos.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: February 10, 1997
- **Landing Date**: August 14, 1997
- **Duration**: 15,977,260 seconds (approximately 183 days)
- **Spacecraft Type**: Soyuz-TM (fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome ("Gagarin's Start")
- **Orbital Period**: 90.1 minutes
- **Orbits Completed**: 2,950
- **Apoapsis**: 394.0 kilometers
- **Periapsis**: 378.0 kilometers
- **Orbital Inclination**: 51.64 degrees
- **Crew Members**: Vasily Tsibliyev (commander), Aleksandr Lazutkin (flight engineer), Reinhold Ewald (research cosmonaut)
- **Mass at Takeoff**: 7,150 kilograms
- **Part of**: Soyuz programme
- **Followed by**: Soyuz TM-26
- **Preceded by**: Soyuz TM-24
- **Satellite of**: Low Earth orbit
- **Location of Landing**: Kazakhstan

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-25?
A: The crew consisted of Vasily Tsibliyev (commander), Aleksandr Lazutkin (flight engineer), and Reinhold Ewald (research cosmonaut).

### Q: What was the duration of Soyuz TM-25's mission?
A: The mission lasted approximately 183 days, with a total duration of 15,977,260 seconds.

### Q: What type of spacecraft was Soyuz TM-25?
A: Soyuz TM-25 was a Soyuz-TM, which is a fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft.

### Q: Where did Soyuz TM-25 launch from?
A: The spacecraft launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, also known as "Gagarin's Start."

### Q: What was the orbital period of Soyuz TM-25?
A: The orbital period was 90.1 minutes.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-25 was a significant mission in the history of Russian spaceflight, contributing to the continued operation and maintenance of the Mir space station. The mission demonstrated the reliability and capability of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft and the Soyuz-U launch vehicle. The crew's activities aboard Mir included scientific research, station maintenance, and the docking of visiting spacecraft. The mission also marked a continuation of the long-standing Soyuz programme, which has been a cornerstone of human spaceflight since the 1960s. Soyuz TM-25's success ensured the sustained presence of humans in space and supported international collaboration in space exploration.

## Notable For
- **Long-Duration Mission**: Soyuz TM-25 had one of the longest durations for a Soyuz mission at the time, totaling approximately 183 days.
- **International Crew**: The mission included a German cosmonaut, Reinhold Ewald, marking the first time a German astronaut flew on a Soyuz spacecraft.
- **Mir Docking**: The spacecraft docked with the Mir space station, facilitating crew transfers and resupply missions.
- **Soyuz Programme Continuity**: The mission underscored the reliability of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft and Soyuz-U launch vehicle, maintaining the programme's legacy.
- **Scientific Research**: The crew conducted various scientific experiments and observations during their stay on Mir.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz TM-25 was launched on February 10, 1997, from Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-U launch vehicle. The spacecraft carried a crew of three: Vasily Tsibliyev as commander, Aleksandr Lazutkin as flight engineer, and Reinhold Ewald as research cosmonaut. The mission lasted approximately 183 days, with the spacecraft returning to Earth on August 14, 1997, landing in Kazakhstan.

### Spacecraft and Launch
The Soyuz TM-25 spacecraft was part of the Soyuz-TM series, which was a fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft. It had a mass of 7,150 kilograms at takeoff. The Soyuz-U launch vehicle was used to propel the spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The orbital parameters included an apoapsis of 394.0 kilometers, a periapsis of 378.0 kilometers, and an orbital inclination of 51.64 degrees.

### Crew and Activities
The crew of Soyuz TM-25 conducted various activities during their mission, including scientific research, station maintenance, and the docking of visiting spacecraft. Reinhold Ewald, a German cosmonaut, was part of the crew, marking the first time a German astronaut flew on a Soyuz spacecraft. The mission supported the continued operation of the Mir space station and contributed to international collaboration in space exploration.

### Orbital Details
Soyuz TM-25 completed 2,950 orbits around Earth during its mission. The spacecraft's orbital period was 90.1 minutes, indicating its relatively low altitude. The mission's duration and orbital characteristics were typical for Soyuz missions to Mir, ensuring a stable and efficient flight path.

### Significance
Soyuz TM-25 was notable for its long-duration mission and the inclusion of an international crew member. The mission demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft and the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, maintaining the programme's legacy. The activities aboard Mir during the mission contributed to scientific research and the advancement of human spaceflight capabilities.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-25",
  "description": "1997 Russian crewed spaceflight to Mir",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q24717",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-25"
  ],
  "additionalType": "SpaceMission"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tm-25.htm)