# Soyuz TM-26

> Russian spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q1753031](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1753031)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-26)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-26

## Summary
Soyuz TM-26 was a Russian human spaceflight, an instance of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft, launched on August 5, 1997. Operated by Roscosmos State Corporation, it carried a crew including Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev and Pavel Vinogradov. The mission concluded with a landing on August 19, 1998, after completing 3220 orbits.

## Key Facts
- Launch Date: August 5, 1997
- Landing Date: August 19, 1998
- Type: Human spaceflight, instance of Soyuz-TM spacecraft
- Country of Origin: Russia
- Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U
- Operator: Roscosmos State Corporation
- Takeoff Mass: 7150 kilograms
- Mission Duration: 17,084,076 seconds
- Orbits Completed: 3220

## FAQs
### Q: What is Soyuz TM-26?
A: Soyuz TM-26 was a Russian human spaceflight, an instance of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft. It was launched in 1997 and operated by Roscosmos State Corporation.

### Q: When did Soyuz TM-26 launch and land?
A: Soyuz TM-26 launched on August 5, 1997, from Baikonur Cosmodrome. It landed on August 19, 1998, in Kazakhstan.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-26?
A: The crew included Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev as commanding officer, Pavel Vinogradov as Flight Engineer 1, and Léopold Eyharts as Research Cosmonaut for the landing phase.

### Q: What type of spacecraft was Soyuz TM-26?
A: Soyuz TM-26 was an instance of the Soyuz-TM class, which is the fourth generation of Soyuz spacecraft. It was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket.

### Q: What was the duration of the Soyuz TM-26 mission?
A: The Soyuz TM-26 mission had a duration of 17,084,076 seconds and completed 3220 orbits.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-26 represents a significant human spaceflight mission conducted by Russia as part of the broader Soyuz programme, which is central to the nation's space exploration efforts. As an instance of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft, it demonstrated the continued operational capabilities and reliability of this fourth-generation vehicle for crewed missions. The mission successfully transported its crew, including a commanding officer and flight engineer, into low Earth orbit, contributing to ongoing scientific research and operational experience in space under the Roscosmos State Corporation. Its extended duration of over 17 million seconds and completion of 3220 orbits underscore its role in maintaining a continuous human presence in space and facilitating crew rotation or resupply missions. This mission, like others in the Soyuz series, is crucial for understanding long-duration spaceflight and supporting national space objectives.

## Notable For
- Being a specific instance of the Soyuz-TM fourth-generation spacecraft used for human spaceflight.
- Its crew composition, including Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev as commanding officer and Pavel Vinogradov as Flight Engineer 1, with Léopold Eyharts joining for the landing.
- Its launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start) and landing in Kazakhstan.
- Its mission duration of over 17 million seconds and completion of 3220 orbits.

## Body
### Overview
Soyuz TM-26 was a Russian human spaceflight, identified by the Spacecraft Number (SCN) 24886 and COSPAR ID 1997-038A. It is an instance of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft, which is the fourth generation of Soyuz spacecraft, and was part of the Soyuz programme. The spacecraft's native label is Союз TM-26.

### Launch and Landing
Soyuz TM-26 was launched on August 5, 1997, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically from Gagarin's Start. The launch vehicle used was a Soyuz-U rocket. The mission concluded with a landing on August 19, 1998, in Kazakhstan.

### Operational Details
The spacecraft was operated by Roscosmos State Corporation. Its takeoff mass was 7150 kilograms. The mission had a total duration of 17,084,076 seconds and completed 3220 orbits around Earth.

### Orbital Characteristics
Soyuz TM-26 operated in low Earth orbit. Its orbital characteristics included an apoapsis of 249.0 kilometres and a periapsis of 193.0 kilometres. The orbital period was 88.5 minutes, and the orbital inclination was 51.64 degrees.

### Crew
The crew members for Soyuz TM-26 included:
*   **Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev**: Commanding officer
*   **Pavel Vinogradov**: Flight Engineer 1
*   **Léopold Eyharts**: Research Cosmonaut (for landing)

### Related Missions
Soyuz TM-26 was preceded by Soyuz TM-25, a 1997 Russian crewed spaceflight, and was followed by Soyuz TM-27, a 1998 Russian crewed spaceflight.

### Imagery
Associated imagery includes a crew portrait and a mission patch.

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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-26.htm)