# Soyuz TM-9

> 1990 flight to Russia Space Station Mir

**Wikidata**: [Q1475435](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1475435)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TM-9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tm-9

## Summary
Soyuz TM-9 was a 1990 Soviet crewed spaceflight to the Mir space station, part of the Soyuz programme. It was the ninth mission in the Soyuz-TM series, launched on February 11, 1990, and carried a two-person crew to conduct scientific research and maintenance on Mir.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: February 11, 1990, from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start).
- **Crew**: Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev (spacecraft commander) and Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin (Flight Engineer 1).
- **Duration**: 15,470,277 seconds (approximately 178 days).
- **Mass**: 7,150 kg at takeoff.
- **Orbital Parameters**: Apoapsis of 387 km, periapsis of 373 km, inclination of 51.63 degrees, and an orbital period of 92.2 minutes.
- **Followed By**: Soyuz TM-10, the next mission in the series.
- **Landing Date**: August 9, 1990, in Kazakhstan.
- **Orbits Completed**: 2,895 orbits around Earth.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TM-9?
A: Soyuz TM-9 was a crewed mission to the Mir space station, aimed at conducting scientific research, maintenance, and experiments in low Earth orbit.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TM-9?
A: The crew consisted of Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev (spacecraft commander) and Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin (Flight Engineer 1).

### Q: How long did Soyuz TM-9 stay in space?
A: The mission lasted approximately 178 days, from February 11, 1990, to August 9, 1990.

### Q: What was the launch vehicle for Soyuz TM-9?
A: The mission was launched using a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

### Q: What was the orbital inclination of Soyuz TM-9?
A: The orbital inclination was 51.63 degrees relative to the Earth's equator.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TM-9 was a critical mission in the Soviet space program, contributing to the ongoing operations and scientific research aboard the Mir space station. As part of the Soyuz programme, it demonstrated the reliability and versatility of the Soyuz-TM spacecraft, which has been a cornerstone of human spaceflight for decades. The mission's success helped pave the way for future long-duration spaceflights and international cooperation in space exploration. Additionally, the data and experiences gathered during Soyuz TM-9 contributed to the broader understanding of living and working in space, informing subsequent missions and spacecraft design.

## Notable For
- **Long-Duration Mission**: Soyuz TM-9 spent approximately 178 days in space, demonstrating the capability for extended human presence in low Earth orbit.
- **Scientific Research**: The mission conducted various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the Mir space station.
- **Crew Composition**: The mission was crewed by two experienced cosmonauts, Anatoly Solovyev and Aleksandr Balandin, who played key roles in the mission's success.
- **Orbital Achievements**: The spacecraft completed 2,895 orbits around Earth, showcasing its endurance and reliability.
- **Part of the Soyuz Programme**: Soyuz TM-9 was a significant mission in the long-running Soyuz programme, which has been instrumental in human spaceflight.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz TM-9 was a crewed spaceflight mission to the Mir space station, launched on February 11, 1990. The mission was part of the Soyuz programme, which has been a cornerstone of Soviet and Russian human spaceflight. The spacecraft was launched using a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, specifically from Gagarin's Start.

### Crew
The mission was crewed by two cosmonauts:
- **Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev**: Served as the spacecraft commander.
- **Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin**: Served as Flight Engineer 1.

### Mission Duration and Orbits
Soyuz TM-9 spent approximately 178 days in space, completing 2,895 orbits around Earth. The mission concluded with a landing in Kazakhstan on August 9, 1990.

### Orbital Parameters
- **Apoapsis**: 387 km
- **Periapsis**: 373 km
- **Orbital Inclination**: 51.63 degrees
- **Orbital Period**: 92.2 minutes

### Spacecraft Specifications
- **Mass at Takeoff**: 7,150 kg
- **Class**: Soyuz-TM (fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft)

### Significant Events
- **Rocket Launch**: February 11, 1990, from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
- **Landing**: August 9, 1990, in Kazakhstan.

### Context within the Soyuz Programme
Soyuz TM-9 was preceded by Soyuz TM-8 and followed by Soyuz TM-10. It was part of a series of missions that maintained a continuous human presence on the Mir space station, contributing to scientific research and technological advancements in space exploration.

## Schema Markup
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  "name": "Soyuz TM-9",
  "description": "1990 flight to Russia Space Station 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-9.htm)