# Soyuz TM-31

> first Soyuz mission to the International Space Station

**Wikidata**: [Q1423493](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1423493)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-31)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-31

## Summary
Soyuz TM-31 was the first Soyuz mission to dock with the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone in international space cooperation. Launched on October 31, 2000, it carried the first long-duration ISS crew, including NASA astronaut William Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev.

## Key Facts
- **First Soyuz mission to the ISS**: Soyuz TM-31 was the inaugural crewed flight to the International Space Station, establishing a continuous human presence in orbit.
- **Launch date**: October 31, 2000, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
- **Crew**: Included Yuri Gidzenko (commander), Sergei Krikalev (flight engineer), and William Shepherd (flight engineer).
- **Duration**: The mission lasted approximately 186 days, with a landing on May 6, 2001.
- **Spacecraft class**: Part of the Soyuz-TM series, a fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft.
- **Launch vehicle**: Soyuz-U rocket.
- **Orbital details**: Achieved a low Earth orbit with an apogee of 249 km and a perigee of 190 km.
- **Significant event**: Docked with the ISS on November 2, 2000, and later with the Zarya and Zvezda modules.
- **Operator**: Roscosmos State Corporation.
- **Call sign**: "Uran."

## FAQs
### Q: What was the significance of Soyuz TM-31?
A: Soyuz TM-31 was the first Soyuz mission to dock with the International Space Station, marking the beginning of a continuous human presence in space and a major step in international space cooperation.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-31?
A: The crew consisted of Yuri Gidzenko (commander), Sergei Krikalev (flight engineer), and William Shepherd (flight engineer), representing Russia and the United States.

### Q: How long did the Soyuz TM-31 mission last?
A: The mission lasted approximately 186 days, from launch on October 31, 2000, to landing on May 6, 2001.

### Q: What spacecraft did Soyuz TM-31 use?
A: Soyuz TM-31 was part of the Soyuz-TM series, a fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft, launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.

### Q: Where did Soyuz TM-31 land?
A: The spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan on May 6, 2001.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-31 was a pivotal mission in the history of space exploration, as it marked the first time a Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station. This achievement symbolized the beginning of a new era in international collaboration, with astronauts from different nations working together in space. The mission also established a continuous human presence in orbit, paving the way for future long-duration space missions. By demonstrating the feasibility of international cooperation in space, Soyuz TM-31 laid the groundwork for the ISS and future space exploration endeavors.

## Notable For
- **First Soyuz mission to the ISS**: Soyuz TM-31 was the inaugural crewed flight to the International Space Station, establishing a continuous human presence in orbit.
- **International crew**: The mission featured the first long-duration ISS crew, including astronauts from the United States and Russia.
- **Historic docking**: Soyuz TM-31 successfully docked with the ISS, marking a major milestone in space exploration.
- **Long-duration mission**: The mission lasted approximately 186 days, demonstrating the feasibility of long-duration spaceflight.
- **International cooperation**: Soyuz TM-31 symbolized the beginning of a new era in international collaboration in space.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz TM-31 was launched on October 31, 2000, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The mission carried a crew of three: Yuri Gidzenko (commander), Sergei Krikalev (flight engineer), and William Shepherd (flight engineer). The spacecraft was part of the Soyuz-TM series, a fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft, and was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.

### Orbital Details
Soyuz TM-31 achieved a low Earth orbit with an apogee of 249 km and a perigee of 190 km. The orbital inclination was 51.57 degrees, and the orbital period was approximately 88.6 minutes. The spacecraft completed 3,040 orbits during its mission.

### Docking and Berthing
Soyuz TM-31 docked with the International Space Station on November 2, 2000, at the Zvezda module. The crew later transferred to the Zarya module on February 24, 2001, and returned to Zvezda on April 18, 2001. The spacecraft undocked from the ISS on May 6, 2001, and landed in Kazakhstan, concluding the mission.

### Crew and Significance
The crew of Soyuz TM-31 included the first long-duration ISS crew, representing the United States and Russia. The mission marked the beginning of a continuous human presence in space and demonstrated the feasibility of international cooperation in space exploration.

### Legacy
Soyuz TM-31 laid the groundwork for future long-duration space missions and international collaboration in space. The mission's success paved the way for the ISS and future space exploration endeavors.

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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/station/2000/iss00-43.html)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tm-31.htm)