# Soyuz TMA-6

> 2005 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

**Wikidata**: [Q647619](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q647619)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-6)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tma-6

## Summary
Soyuz TMA-6 was a 2005 Russian crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), part of the Soyuz programme. It transported a three-person crew, including Expedition 11 members, and marked a key mission in human spaceflight operations.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: April 15, 2005, from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Gagarin's Start).
- **Landing Date**: October 11, 2005, in Kazakhstan (coordinates: 50.7333°N, 67.4281°E).
- **Crew**: Sergei Krikalev (commander), John L. Phillips (Flight Engineer 1), and Roberto Vittori (Flight Engineer 2, takeoff); Gregory Olsen replaced Vittori for landing.
- **Spacecraft**: Soyuz-TMA class, mass 7,200 kg at takeoff.
- **Orbital Details**: Apoapsis 360 km, periapsis 349 km, inclination 51.64°, orbital period 92.6 minutes.
- **Mission Duration**: Completed 2,817 orbits of Earth.
- **Operator**: Roscosmos State Corporation.
- **Preceded by**: Soyuz TMA-5; **Followed by**: Soyuz TMA-7.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TMA-6?
A: Soyuz TMA-6 transported the Expedition 11 crew to the ISS for a long-duration mission, supporting scientific research and station maintenance.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TMA-6?
A: The crew included Sergei Krikalev (commander), John L. Phillips (Flight Engineer 1), and Roberto Vittori (Flight Engineer 2 for launch). Gregory Olsen replaced Vittori for the return trip.

### Q: When and where did Soyuz TMA-6 land?
A: It landed on October 11, 2005, in Kazakhstan at coordinates 50.7333°N, 67.4281°E.

### Q: What type of spacecraft was Soyuz TMA-6?
A: It was a Soyuz-TMA spacecraft, a revised version of the Soyuz series designed for crewed missions to the ISS.

### Q: How long was Soyuz TMA-6 in orbit?
A: The mission completed 2,817 orbits over approximately 179 days.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TMA-6 played a critical role in maintaining human presence on the ISS, facilitating scientific experiments and station operations during Expedition 11. As part of the Soyuz programme, it demonstrated Russia's continued leadership in crewed spaceflight, ensuring reliable transportation to and from the ISS. The mission also highlighted international collaboration, with crew members from Russia, the U.S., and Italy. Its successful execution reinforced the Soyuz spacecraft's reputation as a dependable workhorse for space exploration, bridging gaps in crew rotation and resupply missions.

## Notable For
- **Expedition 11 Transport**: Delivered the primary crew for ISS Expedition 11, including veteran cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev.
- **International Crew**: Featured astronauts from Russia, the U.S., and Italy (Roberto Vittori, the first Italian on a Soyuz mission).
- **Long-Duration Mission**: Supported a 179-day stay on the ISS, contributing to continuous human occupation.
- **Precise Landing**: Executed a controlled landing in Kazakhstan, a standard procedure for Soyuz returns.
- **Soyuz-TMA Reliability**: Reinforced the Soyuz-TMA's role as a cornerstone of ISS crew rotation missions.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz TMA-6 was launched on April 15, 2005, aboard a Soyuz-FG rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome's "Gagarin's Start" pad. The mission's primary objective was to ferry the Expedition 11 crew to the ISS, replacing the previous expedition. The spacecraft docked with the ISS, enabling crew transfer and cargo delivery.

### Crew Details
- **Sergei Krikalev** (Russia): Served as spacecraft commander and Expedition 11 commander. A veteran cosmonaut with multiple spaceflights.
- **John L. Phillips** (USA): Flight Engineer 1 and Expedition 11 member.
- **Roberto Vittori** (Italy): Flight Engineer 2 for launch; returned on Soyuz TMA-5.
- **Gregory Olsen** (USA): Replaced Vittori for the return trip as Flight Engineer 2.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 7,200 kg at takeoff.
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (LEO) with an apoapsis of 360 km and periapsis of 349 km.
- **Inclination**: 51.64° relative to Earth's equator.
- **Orbital Period**: 92.6 minutes per orbit.
- **Orbits Completed**: 2,817 during the mission.

### Significant Events
- **Launch**: April 15, 2005, from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
- **Docking**: Successfully docked with the ISS, enabling crew rotation.
- **Landing**: October 11, 2005, in Kazakhstan, marking the end of Expedition 11's ISS stay.

### Legacy
Soyuz TMA-6 exemplified the operational success of the Soyuz-TMA series, which remains a critical component of ISS logistics. Its mission underscored the importance of international cooperation in space exploration, with crew members from multiple nations. The spacecraft's performance reinforced the Soyuz programme's reliability, ensuring its continued use for future missions.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz TMA-6",
  "description": "2005 Russian crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS).",
  "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Soyuz_TMA-6_spacecraft.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28640",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-6"
  ],
  "additionalType": "HumanSpaceflight"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://www.energia.ru/eng/news/news-2005/press_release_iss-16.html)
4. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-tma-6.htm)