# Soyuz TMA-20

> long-duration Roscosmos spaceflight to the International Space Station

**Wikidata**: [Q857030](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q857030)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-20)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tma-20

## Summary
Soyuz TMA-20 was a long-duration crewed spaceflight operated by Roscosmos, launched on December 15, 2010, to the International Space Station (ISS). It carried three crew members—Dmitri Kondratyev, Catherine Coleman, and Paolo Nespoli—who joined Expedition 26. The mission concluded with a landing in Kazakhstan on May 24, 2011.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: December 15, 2010, aboard a Soyuz-FG rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start pad.
- **Crew**: Commander Dmitri Kondratyev (Russia), Flight Engineer 1 Catherine Coleman (USA), and Flight Engineer 2 Paolo Nespoli (Italy).
- **Mission Duration**: ~5 months (December 2010–May 2011).
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TMA (a revision of the Soyuz spacecraft).
- **Preceded By**: Soyuz TMA-01M (2010); **Followed By**: Soyuz TMA-21 (2011).
- **COSPAR ID**: 2010-067A; **Orbital Inclination**: 51.65 degrees.
- **Landing Coordinates**: 47.366° N, 69.464° E in Kazakhstan.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Soyuz TMA-20 launched and landed?
A: Soyuz TMA-20 launched on December 15, 2010, and landed on May 24, 2011, after 161 days in space.

### Q: Who were the crew members and their roles?
A: The crew included Commander Dmitri Kondratyev (Russia), Flight Engineer 1 Catherine Coleman (USA), and Flight Engineer 2 Paolo Nespoli (Italy), all part of ISS Expedition 26.

### Q: What was the significance of Soyuz TMA-20?
A: It ensured the continuous human presence on the ISS, facilitated scientific research, and demonstrated international collaboration in space exploration.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TMA-20 played a critical role in maintaining operations aboard the ISS during Expedition 26, supporting scientific experiments and technological testing. As part of the Soyuz programme, it underscored Russia's reliability in crewed spaceflight during a period of heavy reliance on Soyuz vehicles for ISS access. The mission also highlighted international cooperation, with a crew representing three nations. Its success reinforced the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft's capabilities and the effectiveness of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, contributing to the sustained human presence in low Earth orbit.

## Notable For
- **International Crew**: Combined Russian, American, and Italian astronauts, symbolizing global collaboration.
- **Expedition 26 Contribution**: Supported critical ISS operations, including scientific research and station maintenance.
- **Precision Landing**: Touchdown in Kazakhstan at 47.366° N, 69.464° E, showcasing Soyuz's reliable return systems.
- **Soyuz-TMA Spacecraft**: Utilized a modernized Soyuz variant with improved safety and comfort features.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz TMA-20 was a crewed spaceflight under the Soyuz programme, operated by Roscosmos. It launched on December 15, 2010, at 19:55 UTC, aboard a Soyuz-FG rocket from Site No. 1 (Gagarin's Start) at Baikonur Cosmodrome. The spacecraft docked with the ISS on December 17, joining Expedition 26. The mission ended on May 24, 2011, with a successful landing in Kazakhstan.

### Crew
- **Commander**: Dmitri Kondratyev (Russia) – responsible for spacecraft operations.
- **Flight Engineer 1**: Catherine Coleman (USA) – conducted scientific experiments.
- **Flight Engineer 2**: Paolo Nespoli (Italy) – focused on European Space Agency (ESA) research.

### Launch and Landing
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-FG (a three-stage rocket derived from the R-7 family).
- **Landing Date/Time**: May 24, 2011, at 02:02 UTC, in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan.
- **Recovery Site**: 47.366° N, 69.464° E, approximately 93 km northeast of Arkalyk.

### Orbital Details
- **Orbit Type**: Low Earth orbit (LEO).
- **Inclination**: 51.65 degrees to the equator, aligning with the ISS's orbital plane.
- **Mission Duration**: 161 days (from launch to landing).

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SpaceMission",
  "name": "Soyuz TMA-20",
  "description": "Long-duration Roscosmos spaceflight to the International Space Station",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-20",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1367692",
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Soyuz_TMA-20"
  ],
  "operator": "Roscosmos State Corporation",
  "launchDate": "2010-12-15",
  "landingDate": "2011-05-24",
  "launchVehicle": "Soyuz-FG",
  "crew": [
    "Dmitri Kondratyev",
    "Catherine Coleman",
    "Paolo Nespoli"
  ],
  "cosparId": "2010-067A",
  "orbitalInclination": "51.65 degrees"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tma-20.htm)