Soyuz TM-15

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Mission emblem
Mission emblem
Mission dates
Mission: Soyuz TM-15
COSPAR-ID : 1992-046A
Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-ST ( GRAY index  11F732)
serial number 65
Dimensions: 7150 kg
Launcher: Soyuz U2 (GRAY index 11A511U2)
Call sign: Родник (Rodnik - "source")
Crew: 3 started
2 landed
Begin: July 27, 1992, 06:08:42  UTC
Starting place: Baikonur 1/5
Space station: Me
Coupling: July 29, 1992, 07:46 UTC
Decoupling: February 1, 1993, 12:26 UTC
Landing: February 1, 1993, 03:49:57 UTC
Landing place: 100 km northwest of Arkalik
Flight duration: 188d 21h 41min 15s
Earth orbits: 3070
Rotation time : 88.6 min
Apogee : 216 km
Perigee : 196 km
◄ Before / After ►
Soyuz TM-14
(manned) 		Soyuz TM-16
(manned)

Soyuz TM-15 is the mission name for the flight of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the Russian Mir space station . It was the 15th visit by a Soyuz spacecraft to the Mir space station and the 91st flight in the Russian Soyuz program.

crew

Starting crew

Substitute team

Return team

  • Anatoly Jakowlewitsch Solowjow (3rd space flight), commander
  • Sergei Wassiljewitsch Avdejew (1st space flight), flight engineer

Mission overview

During the two-week French Mir-Antares mission, eleven experiments from the fields of biomedicine, technology and physics were carried out. ORTHOSTATISME dealt with the investigation of blood pressure and circulation regulation as well as with the distribution of blood flow in weightlessness. The effects on the hormonal balance were also researched. In the ILLUSION experiment, the adaptation of the sensory organs to space conditions was investigated. NAUSICAA 1 was about measuring the composition and strength of the radiation field that surrounds the space travelers. Further experiments looked at the lifespan of blood cells and effects on the immune system. Crystal growth, the effect of cosmic rays on electronic components and the behavior of liquids in weightlessness were further objects of investigation.

After decoupling from Soyuz TM-14 (Wiktorenko / Kaleri / Tognini), everyday life began for the twelfth permanent crew of the station. The focus was on geophysics, materials science production of special alloys and crystals, biotechnological, astronomical and medical investigations. In addition, the MAK 2 small satellite was deployed for the Moscow Aviation Institute.

Solovyov and Avdeev got out into space four times to continue the work on the station. On September 3, for example, they installed the SOFORA engine block, which was delivered by the Progress M-14 transport ship, to the corresponding lattice mast. For this purpose, the transport spaceship was modified accordingly. On September 2, the cargo hatch was opened by radio command, and a robotic arm attached to the front part of the Progress M-14 heaved the 750 kg heavy and more than two meter long engine out of the hold. It was then swiveled over to the Kwant module and the next day the cosmonauts released it from the robot arm and brought it into the assembly position (3:56 h duration). Four days later, SOFORA was attached to the lattice mast in the correct position (5:08 h). During the third exit on September 11th, the necessary cable connections were installed and the engine was brought into working position by extending the lattice mast (5:44 h). During another exit on September 15, the cosmonauts installed a special antenna for the course approach system on the crystal module, which also allows larger spacecraft to be docked. For this purpose, Kristall had already been equipped with the improved APAS-89 coupling units on earth . The counterpart was also mounted on the US shuttles approaching Mir to enable the American space shuttles to be coupled to the Russian space station. The return capsule of Progress M-14 was loaded with about 150 kg of research material shortly before it was launched. Another delivery of material took place with the Progress M-15 in October, before the crew was replaced by the successor crew at the end of January 1993.

See also

Web links