# Soyuz TMA-9

> soyuz space program mission

**Wikidata**: [Q591584](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q591584)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-tma-9

## Summary
Soyuz TMA-9 was a human spaceflight mission to the International Space Station, launched on September 18, 2006, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It carried Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, American astronaut Michael López-Alegría, and private astronauts Anousheh Ansari and Charles Simonyi. The mission docked with the ISS on September 20, 2006, and returned to Earth on April 21, 2007.

## Key Facts
- Launched on September 18, 2006, from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start launch pad
- Docked with the International Space Station on September 20, 2006, at the Zvezda module
- Operated in low Earth orbit with an orbital period of 88.64 minutes and inclination of 51.63 degrees
- Crew included Expedition 14 members Mikhail Tyurin (commander) and Michael López-Alegría (flight engineer)
- Carried private astronauts Anousheh Ansari (launch) and Charles Simonyi (landing)
- Completed 3,170 orbits during its 197-day mission
- Landed in Kazakhstan on April 21, 2007, at coordinates 48.5°N, 69.17°E
- Used Soyuz-FG launch vehicle and was part of the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft series

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz TMA-9?
A: Soyuz TMA-9 was a crew rotation mission to the International Space Station, delivering Expedition 14 crew members and two private astronauts. It served as both a transportation vehicle and emergency return spacecraft for ISS crew members.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Soyuz TMA-9?
A: The crew consisted of Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin (spacecraft commander), American astronaut Michael López-Alegría (flight engineer), Iranian-American entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari (first female space tourist), and Hungarian-American software executive Charles Simonyi (second private astronaut).

### Q: How long did Soyuz TMA-9 stay in space?
A: Soyuz TMA-9 spent 197 days in space, from its launch on September 18, 2006, to its landing on April 21, 2007, completing 3,170 orbits around Earth.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz TMA-9 represents a significant milestone in international space cooperation and the commercialization of space travel. As part of the long-running Soyuz program, it demonstrated the reliability of Russian spacecraft for transporting both professional astronauts and private citizens to the International Space Station. The mission's inclusion of Anousheh Ansari as the first female space tourist marked a breakthrough in making space accessible to private individuals, while Charles Simonyi's participation as a repeat space tourist highlighted the growing market for commercial spaceflight. The successful completion of Expedition 14's mission objectives, including various scientific experiments and station maintenance tasks, contributed to the ongoing research and development work aboard the ISS. Soyuz TMA-9 also exemplified the continued importance of the Soyuz spacecraft as a workhorse for human spaceflight, capable of supporting both government and private sector space activities.

## Notable For
- First mission to carry two private astronauts (Anousheh Ansari and Charles Simonyi)
- Anousheh Ansari became the first female space tourist and first person of Iranian descent in space
- Charles Simonyi became the fifth space tourist and later returned for a second flight, making him the only repeat orbital space tourist
- Successfully completed Expedition 14's mission objectives while supporting commercial spaceflight activities
- Demonstrated the Soyuz-TMA's capability to support mixed professional and private crew configurations
- Maintained the critical crew rotation and emergency return capability for the International Space Station

## Body
### Mission Overview
Soyuz TMA-9 was a Soyuz-TMA series spacecraft mission that launched on September 18, 2006, at 04:09 UTC from Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft was part of the ongoing Soyuz program, which has been the primary means of transporting crew to the International Space Station since the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft had a mass of 7,270 kilograms at takeoff and was designated with COSPAR ID 2006-040A. It operated in low Earth orbit with an apogee of 242 kilometers and a perigee of 200 kilometers. The orbital inclination was 51.63 degrees, and the spacecraft completed one orbit every 88.64 minutes.

### Crew Composition
The mission carried a diverse crew:
- Mikhail Tyurin (Russia) - Spacecraft Commander
- Michael López-Alegría (USA) - Flight Engineer 1
- Anousheh Ansari (Iran/USA) - Private Astronaut (launch)
- Charles Simonyi (Hungary/USA) - Private Astronaut (landing)

### Mission Timeline
- September 18, 2006: Launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome
- September 20, 2006: Docking with ISS at Zvezda module
- October 10, 2006: Undocking from Zvezda, redocking to Zarya module
- April 21, 2007: Undocking from Zarya and landing in Kazakhstan
- April 21, 2007: Atmospheric entry and landing at 48.5°N, 69.17°E

### Mission Accomplishments
During its 197-day mission, Soyuz TMA-9 completed 3,170 orbits of Earth. The spacecraft served as both the primary means of crew transportation to and from the ISS and as an emergency return vehicle for the station's crew. The mission successfully supported Expedition 14's scientific research objectives and demonstrated the viability of commercial spaceflight participation in ISS operations.

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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-9.htm)