# Soyuz TM-7

> 1988 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q767583](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q767583)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-7)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-7

## Summary
Soyuz TM-7 was a 1988 Soviet crewed spaceflight to the Mir space station, launched on November 26, 1988, and landing on April 27, 1989.

## Key Facts
- Launched on November 26, 1988, from Gagarin's Start, and landed on April 27, 1989, in Kazakhstan.
- Operated by the Soviet space program, part of the Soyuz programme and Soyuz-TM class (fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft).
- Carried a crew of four: Aleksandr Volkov (spacecraft commander), Sergei Krikalev (flight engineer), Jean-Loup Chrétien (research cosmonaut), and Valeri Polyakov (research cosmonaut).
- Used the Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket for launch.
- Had an orbital period of 88.8 minutes, with an inclination of 51.64 degrees, and completed 2,450 orbits.
- Mass at takeoff was 7,000 kilograms.

### FAQs
### Q: When did Soyuz TM-7 launch and land?
A: It launched on November 26, 1988, and landed on April 27, 1989.
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-7?
A: The crew included Aleksandr Volkov (spacecraft commander), Sergei Krikalev (flight engineer), Jean-Loup Chrétien (research cosmonaut), and Valeri Polyakov (research cosmonaut).
### Q: What was the orbital period and inclination of Soyuz TM-7?
A: Its orbital period was 88.8 minutes, and orbital inclination was 51.64 degrees.

### Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-7 played a pivotal role in the development of the Mir space station, serving as a crewed resupply and crew rotation mission. It marked the continuation of Soviet human spaceflight efforts to establish a long-term orbital presence, contributing to international cooperation in space exploration by hosting a European cosmonaut (Jean-Loup Chrétien) and enabling extended missions like Valeri Polyakov's record-setting stay. The mission demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft and supported scientific research on the Mir station, advancing human understanding of long-duration spaceflight and international collaboration in space.

### Notable For
- Included the first European cosmonaut (Jean-Loup Chrétien) on a Soyuz mission to Mir.
- Supported Valeri Polyakov's record-breaking long-duration mission, with his landing occurring after a 427-day stay.
- Was part of the Soyuz-TM series, the fourth-generation Soyuz spacecraft, enhancing capabilities for Mir missions.
- Completed 2,450 orbits during its mission, showcasing sustained orbital operations.

### Body
#### Mission Overview
Soyuz TM-7 was a Soviet crewed spaceflight to the Mir space station, launched on November 26, 1988, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start pad. The mission was operated by the Soviet space program and served as a crew rotation and resupply mission for the Mir station. It followed Soyuz TM-6 and preceded Soyuz TM-8, forming part of the sequential Soyuz missions to Mir in the late 1980s.

#### Crew and Mission Details
The crew consisted of four members:  
- **Aleksandr Volkov** as the spacecraft commander, responsible for mission operations.  
- **Sergei Krikalev** as the flight engineer, supporting systems and experiments.  
- **Jean-Loup Chrétien**, a French research cosmonaut, representing European participation in the mission.  
- **Valeri Polyakov**, a research cosmonaut, who conducted a record-breaking long-duration stay aboard Mir, landing on April 27, 1989, after 427 days in space.  

The launch vehicle was the Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket, and the spacecraft belonged to the Soyuz-TM class, the fourth-generation Soyuz design, which improved upon earlier models for Mir missions. The mission's orbital parameters included an inclination of 51.64 degrees and an orbital period of 88.8 minutes, with the spacecraft completing 2,450 orbits around Earth.

#### Technical Specifications
- **Mass at takeoff**: 7,000 kilograms.  
- **Orbital parameters**: Apoapsis (farthest point from Earth) at 235 kilometers, periapsis (closest point) at 194 kilometers.  
- **Duration**: The mission lasted 130,865,04 seconds (approximately 15 months), from launch to landing.  
- **Cospar ID**: 1988-104A, identifying the spacecraft in orbital catalogs.  

#### Significance and Legacy
Soyuz TM-7 was significant for advancing human spaceflight capabilities and international cooperation. By hosting Chrétien, it facilitated European involvement in the Soviet space program, while Polyakov's extended mission demonstrated the endurance of human physiology in space. The mission also contributed to the operational success of the Mir station, supporting scientific research and crew rotations that laid groundwork for future international space stations like the International Space Station.

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz TM-7",
  "description": "1988 Soviet crewed spaceflight to Mir",
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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-7.htm)