# Soyuz TMA-15

> 2009 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

**Wikidata**: [Q534559](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q534559)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-15)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tma-15

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Soyuz TMA-15**:

---

## Summary  
Soyuz TMA-15 was a 2009 Russian crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). It transported three astronauts—Roman Romanenko, Frank De Winne, and Robert Thirsk—as part of Expedition 20. The mission launched aboard a Soyuz-FG rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome and landed in Kazakhstan after six months in orbit.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: May 27, 2009, from Baikonur Cosmodrome ("Gagarin's Start").  
- **Landing Date**: December 1, 2009, near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (coordinates: 51.10505°N, 67.28825°E).  
- **Crew**:  
  - Roman Romanenko (Commander)  
  - Frank De Winne (Flight Engineer 1)  
  - Robert Thirsk (Flight Engineer 2)  
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TMA, a revision of the Soyuz series.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-FG.  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (periapsis: 151 km, apoapsis: 414 km, inclination: 100.2°).  
- **Mission Duration**: Approximately 6 months.  
- **Part of**: Soyuz programme, operated by Roscosmos.  
- **Preceded by**: Soyuz TMA-14; **Followed by**: Soyuz TMA-16.  

## FAQs  
### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TMA-15?  
A: The crew consisted of Russian commander Roman Romanenko, Belgian Flight Engineer Frank De Winne, and Canadian Flight Engineer Robert Thirsk. They were part of Expedition 20 to the ISS.  

### Q: How long did Soyuz TMA-15 stay in space?  
A: The mission lasted nearly six months, launching on May 27, 2009, and landing on December 1, 2009.  

### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TMA-15?  
A: It delivered crew and supplies to the ISS, supporting Expedition 20 and maintaining Russia's role in ISS crew rotations.  

## Why It Matters  
Soyuz TMA-15 was critical for maintaining crew rotations to the ISS after the retirement of the Space Shuttle, highlighting Russia's continued dominance in human spaceflight logistics. The mission also symbolized international collaboration, with crew members from Russia, Belgium, and Canada. Its success reinforced the reliability of the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft and Soyuz-FG launch system, which remain foundational to ISS operations. Additionally, the mission contributed to scientific experiments and station maintenance during Expedition 20.  

## Notable For  
- **International Crew**: Included astronauts from three different nations (Russia, Belgium, Canada).  
- **Reliability**: Demonstrated the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft's capability for long-duration missions.  
- **Orbital Precision**: Achieved a stable low Earth orbit with an inclination of 100.2°.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Launched: May 27, 2009, from Baikonur Cosmodrome's "Gagarin's Start."  
- Landed: December 1, 2009, in Kazakhstan.  
- Primary objective: Transport crew to the ISS for Expedition 20.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TMA (modernized variant of Soyuz).  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-FG.  
- **Orbit**:  
  - Periapsis: 151 km  
  - Apoapsis: 414 km  
  - Inclination: 100.2°  
  - Orbital period: 90.16 minutes  

### Crew Roles  
- **Roman Romanenko**: Commander (Roscosmos).  
- **Frank De Winne**: Flight Engineer 1 (ESA).  
- **Robert Thirsk**: Flight Engineer 2 (CSA).  

### Legacy  
- Followed Soyuz TMA-14 and preceded Soyuz TMA-16.  
- Contributed to ISS operations during a transitional period post-Space Shuttle.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Spacecraft",
  "name": "Soyuz TMA-15",
  "description": "2009 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-15",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q175269",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-15"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Soyuz-TMA",
  "launchDate": "2009-05-27",
  "landingDate": "2009-12-01",
  "operator": "Roscosmos State Corporation"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tma-15.htm)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013