# Soyuz TMA-08M

> 2013 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

**Wikidata**: [Q1773494](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1773494)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-08M)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tma-08m

## Summary
Soyuz TMA-08M was a 2013 Russian crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). It transported three astronauts—Pavel Vinogradov, Alexander Misurkin, and Christopher Cassidy—to the ISS as part of Expedition 35. The mission used a Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft launched aboard a Soyuz-FG rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: March 28, 2013, from Gagarin's Start at Baikonur Cosmodrome.  
- **Landing Date**: September 11, 2013, in Kazakhstan (coordinates: 47.388°N, 69.647°E).  
- **Spacecraft Model**: Soyuz TMA-M, manufactured by S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-FG.  
- **Mission Duration**: 143,649 seconds (~166 days).  
- **Crew**: Pavel Vinogradov (Commander), Alexander Misurkin (Flight Engineer 1), Christopher Cassidy (Flight Engineer 2).  
- **Call Sign**: "Карат" (Carat).  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2013-013A.  
- **Docking Port**: Poisk module (zenith) of the ISS.  

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TMA-08M?  
A: The crew consisted of Russian cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov (Commander) and Alexander Misurkin (Flight Engineer 1), along with NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy (Flight Engineer 2).  

### Q: How long did Soyuz TMA-08M stay docked to the ISS?  
A: The spacecraft remained docked for approximately 166 days, from March 29 to September 10, 2013.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TMA-08M?  
A: It transported crew and supplies to the ISS as part of Expedition 35, supporting scientific research and station maintenance.  

## Why It Matters  
Soyuz TMA-08M was a critical mission in maintaining continuous human presence aboard the ISS. As part of the Soyuz programme, it demonstrated Russia's capability to reliably transport crew and cargo to the station. The mission also highlighted international collaboration, with a mixed Russian-American crew working together on scientific experiments and station operations. Its success reinforced the Soyuz spacecraft's role as a backbone of ISS logistics, especially during a period when NASA's Space Shuttle program had ended.  

## Notable For  
- **Expedition 35 Participation**: Delivered crew for Expedition 35, contributing to long-duration ISS operations.  
- **Fast Rendezvous**: Used a then-innovative 6-hour docking profile (instead of the traditional 2-day approach).  
- **Soyuz TMA-M Model**: Featured upgraded avionics and reduced weight compared to earlier Soyuz variants.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Launched on March 28, 2013, at 20:43 UTC.  
- Docked with the ISS's Poisk module on March 29, 2013, after a 6-hour flight.  
- Undocked on September 10, 2013, and landed in Kazakhstan on September 11.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz TMA-M (modernized variant with improved systems).  
- **Launch Mass**: ~7,200 kg.  
- **Orbital Inclination**: 51.65°.  

### Crew Roles  
- **Pavel Vinogradov**: Veteran cosmonaut with prior ISS experience.  
- **Alexander Misurkin**: First spaceflight.  
- **Christopher Cassidy**: Second spaceflight (later became NASA Chief Astronaut).  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Spacecraft",
  "name": "Soyuz TMA-08M",
  "description": "2013 Russian crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-08M",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39125",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-08M"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Soyuz TMA-M",
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia"
  },
  "operatedBy": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Roscosmos State Corporation"
  },
  "launchDate": "2013-03-28",
  "landingDate": "2013-09-11"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tma-08m.htm)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013