ROSCOSMOS Soyuz TM-20 Soyuz-U2
Meet the Astronaut Crew
Aleksandr Viktorenko
| Birthday | 03/29/1947 |
|---|---|
| Role | Commander |
| Nationality | Russia |
| First Flight | 07/22/1987 |
| Last Flight | 10/03/1994 |
Aleksandr Stepanovich Viktorenko (Александр Степанович Викторенко) was a Soviet cosmonaut. He was born in Olginka, North-Kazakhstan Oblast, Kazakh SSR on March 29, 1947. He is...
Yelena Kondakova
| Birthday | 03/30/1957 |
|---|---|
| Role | Flight Engineer |
| Nationality | Russia |
| First Flight | 10/03/1994 |
| Last Flight | 05/15/1997 |
Yelena Vladimirovna Kondakova (Russian: Елена Владимировна Кондакóва; born March 30, 1957) was the third Soviet/Russian female cosmonaut to travel to space and the first woman...
Ulf Merbold
| Birthday | 06/20/1941 |
|---|---|
| Role | Research Cosmonaut |
| Nationality | Germany |
| First Flight | 11/28/1983 |
| Last Flight | 10/03/1994 |
Dr. Ulf Dietrich Merbold (born June 20, 1941) is the first West German citizen and second German native (after Sigmund Jähn) to have flown in...
About the Soyuz TM-20 Mission
| Type | Human Exploration |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
Soyuz TM-20 was the 20th mission and the 17th long-duration expedition to Mir space station. The mission began on October 3, 1994, 22:42:30 UTC, launching Commander Alexander Viktorenko, Flight Engineer Yelena Kondakova and Research Cosmonaut Ulf Merbold into orbit. They docked with Mir two days later. During their stay there, cosmonauts performed two EVAs, carried out various scientific experiments. Station crew was visited by several Progress resupply spacecrafts, and welcomed aboard the Soyuz TM-21 crew. During this mission the first rendezvous maneuver of the Space Shuttle STS-63 with the Mir space station was performed.
The mission concluded with a safe landing back on Earth on March 22, 1995, 04:04:05 UTC.
Launch Pad & Location
1/5
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
| Launches | 487 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 487 |
| Total Launches | 1565 |
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. Located in the Kazakh city of Baikonur, it is the largest operational space launch facility in terms of area. All Russian crewed spaceflights are launched from Baikonur.
Soviet Space Program Soyuz-U2 Rocket
The Soyuz-U2 was a Soviet, later Russian, carrier rocket. It was derived from the Soyuz-U, and a member of the R-7 family of rockets. It featured increased performance compared with the baseline Soyuz-U, due to the use of syntin propellant, as opposed to RP-1 paraffin, used on the Soyuz-U.
| Length | 34.5 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 3.0 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 298.0 T |
| LEO Capacity | 7,050 kg |
| Maiden Flight | 12/23/1982 |
Mission Spacecraft
Soyuz TM-20
Soyuz TM-20 (Soyuz TM 11F732A51 #69) was the spacecraft used for this mission. It is a ROSCOSMOS Capsule designed for Manned and Cargo ISS & Mir Logistics, Lifeboat and traveled to Mir.
Soyuz TM-20 was a Soyuz spacecraft which launched on 3 October 1994 22:42 UTC. It transported two members of the Expedition 17 crew and one German astronaut to Mir. The Expedition 17 crew consisted of Alexander Viktorenko and Yelena Kondakova. The German was ESA astronaut Ulf Merbold. Soyuz is a series of spacecraft designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau (now RKK Energia) in the 1960s that remains in service today. The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft and was originally built as part of the Soviet Manned Lunar programme. The Soyuz spacecraft is launched on a Soyuz rocket, the most frequently used and most reliable launch vehicle in the world to date. The Soyuz rocket design is based on the Vostok launcher, which in turn was based on the 8K74 or R-7A Semyorka, a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile. All Soyuz spacecraft are launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. 180 days while docked
| Type | Capsule |
|---|---|
| Agency | ROSCOSMOS |
| Serial Number | Soyuz TM 11F732A51 #69 |
| Status | Single Use |
| Destination | Mir |
| Maiden Flight | 5/21/1986 |
| Mission End | 3/22/1995 |
| Flights | 1 |
| Crew Capacity | 3 |
| Human Rated | Yes |
| Height | 7.5 m |
| Diameter | 2.7 m |
About ROSCOSMOS
The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, commonly known as Roscosmos, is the governmental body responsible for the space science program of the Russian Federation and general aerospace research. Soyuz has many launch locations the Russian sites are Baikonur, Plesetsk and Vostochny however Ariane also purchases the vehicle and launches it from French Guiana.
| Total Launches | 344 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 333 |
| Failed | 11 |
| Pending | 4 |
| Consecutive Success | 68 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U Soyuz TM-20 launch scheduled?
The ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U Soyuz TM-20 launch was scheduled for:
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Where did the ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U Soyuz TM-20 mission launch from?
The ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U rocket launched from 1/5 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan. The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. Located in the Kazakh city of Baikonur, it is the largest operational space launch facility in terms of area. All Russian crewed spaceflights are launched from Baikonur.
What rocket was used for the Soyuz TM-20 mission?
The Soyuz TM-20 mission launched aboard a ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U rocket. The Soyuz-U2 was a Soviet, later Russian, carrier rocket. It was derived from the Soyuz-U, and a member of the R-7 family of rockets. It featured increased performance compared with the baseline Soyuz-U, due to the use of syntin propellant, as opposed to RP-1 paraffin, used on the Soyuz-U. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U Soyuz TM-20 launch?
The ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U Soyuz TM-20 launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U Soyuz TM-20 launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest ROSCOSMOS Soyuz-U launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the Soyuz TM-20 mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official ROSCOSMOS live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
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