# Soyuz TMA-18M

> Soyuz spaceflight launched on 2 September 2015

**Wikidata**: [Q7572053](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7572053)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-18M)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tma-18m

## Summary
Soyuz TMA-18M was a human spaceflight launched on September 2, 2015, as part of the Soyuz programme. This mission transported a crew to the International Space Station and returned to Earth on March 2, 2016. It utilized a Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft and was operated by Roscosmos State Corporation.

## Key Facts
*   **Launch Date:** September 2, 2015
*   **Landing Date:** March 2, 2016
*   **Mission Duration:** 15,528,000 seconds (approximately 179.7 days)
*   **Vessel Type:** Soyuz TMA-M
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-FG
*   **Operator:** Roscosmos State Corporation
*   **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome, Gagarin's Start
*   **Landing Site:** Kazakhstan
*   **Takeoff Crew:** Sergey Volkov (spacecraft commander), Andreas Mogensen (Flight Engineer 1), Aydyn Aimbetov (Flight Engineer 2)
*   **Landing Crew:** Sergey Volkov (spacecraft commander), Mikhail Korniyenko (Flight Engineer 1), Scott Kelly (Flight Engineer 2)
*   **Preceded By:** Soyuz TMA-17M
*   **Succeeded By:** Soyuz TMA-19M

## FAQs
### Q: What was Soyuz TMA-18M?
A: Soyuz TMA-18M was a human spaceflight mission that launched on September 2, 2015. It transported a crew to the International Space Station and was part of the broader Soyuz programme.

### Q: When did Soyuz TMA-18M launch and land?
A: Soyuz TMA-18M launched on September 2, 2015. It docked with the International Space Station on September 4, 2015, and undocked on March 2, 2016, landing back on Earth the same day.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TMA-18M?
A: The takeoff crew included Sergey Volkov (commander), Andreas Mogensen, and Aydyn Aimbetov. The landing crew consisted of Sergey Volkov (commander), Mikhail Korniyenko, and Scott Kelly.

### Q: Where did Soyuz TMA-18M launch from and land?
A: Soyuz TMA-18M launched from Gagarin's Start at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Its landing occurred in Kazakhstan.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TMA-18M played a crucial role in maintaining human presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS) by facilitating crew rotation and resupply. As a human spaceflight, it continued the legacy of the Soyuz programme, demonstrating the ongoing capability of Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, to transport astronauts and cosmonauts to and from orbit. The mission's duration of nearly 180 days highlights the sustained operational capacity of the Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft and its importance for long-duration expeditions like Expedition 45. The flight also showcased international collaboration by carrying a diverse crew, including members who participated in different phases of the mission, contributing to scientific research and maintenance of the orbital outpost.

## Notable For
*   **Crew Composition:** Carried different crew members for its takeoff and landing phases, with Sergey Volkov serving as spacecraft commander for both.
*   **Extended Mission Duration:** Completed a mission lasting approximately 179.7 days, supporting long-duration stays on the International Space Station.
*   **International Space Station Docking:** Successfully docked with the International Space Station at the Poisk module.
*   **Operational Continuity:** Maintained the continuous sequence of Soyuz flights, following Soyuz TMA-17M and preceding Soyuz TMA-19M, as a vital component of the Soyuz programme.

## Body

### Overview
Soyuz TMA-18M was a human spaceflight mission, an instance of a Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft. It was part of the Soyuz programme and was operated by the Roscosmos State Corporation. The mission's COSPAR ID was 2015-043A.

### Mission Details
*   **Launch:** The mission launched on September 2, 2015, from Gagarin's Start at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch vehicle used was a Soyuz-FG.
*   **Docking:** Soyuz TMA-18M docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at the Poisk module on September 4, 2015.
*   **Undocking:** The spacecraft undocked from the ISS Poisk module on March 2, 2016.
*   **Landing:** The landing occurred on March 2, 2016, in Kazakhstan, at coordinates 47.343888888889 latitude and 69.698888888889 longitude.
*   **Duration:** The total duration of the mission was 15,528,000 seconds.
*   **Orbit:** The spacecraft operated in a low Earth orbit with an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees.

### Crew
The crew for Soyuz TMA-18M included:
*   **Takeoff Crew:**
    *   Sergey Volkov (spacecraft commander)
    *   Andreas Mogensen (Flight Engineer 1)
    *   Aydyn Aimbetov (Flight Engineer 2)
*   **Landing Crew:**
    *   Sergey Volkov (spacecraft commander)
    *   Mikhail Korniyenko (Flight Engineer 1, Expedition 45)
    *   Scott Kelly (Flight Engineer 2, Expedition 45)

### Related Entities
*   **Vessel:** The mission utilized a Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft, which is a model of spacecraft used in the Soyuz programme.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle was used for the mission.
*   **Preceding Mission:** Soyuz TMA-17M, a flight to the International Space Station.
*   **Succeeding Mission:** Soyuz TMA-19M, a Soyuz flight to the International Space Station.

### Identifiers
*   **SCN:** 40885
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/0ql1m3_
*   **Aliases:** سويوز TMA-١٨M

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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tma-18m.htm)