Soyuz TM-21Soyuz-U2Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Launch Status Success Tue · Mar 14th, 1995 1:11 AM EST Crew Vladimir Dezhurov CommanderStatus: Retired 7/30/1962 - Nationality: Russian Type: Government First Flight: 3/14/1995 Last Flight: 8/10/2001Vladimir Nikolayevich Dezhurov (Russian: Влади́мир Никола́евич Дежу́ров; born July 30, 1962) is a former cosmonaut who resides in Star City, Moscow. He is a veteran of two spaceflights, to the Mir and International Space Stations. During his career, Dezhurov also conducted nine spacewalks before his retirement on July 12, 2004. Gennadi Strekalov Flight EngineerStatus: Deceased 10/26/1940 - 12/25/2004 Nationality: Russian Type: Government First Flight: 11/27/1980 Last Flight: 3/14/1995Gennadi Mikhailovich Strekalov (Russian: Генна́дий Миха́йлович Стрека́лов; October 26, 1940 – December 25, 2004) was an engineer, cosmonaut, and administrator at Russian aerospace firm RSC Energia. He flew into space five times and lived aboard the Salyut-6, Salyut-7, and Mir space stations, spending over 268 days in space. The catastrophic explosion of a Soyuz rocket in 1983 led to him being one of only two people to use a launch escape system. Norman E. Thagard Research CosmonautStatus: Retired 7/3/1943 - Nationality: American Type: Government First Flight: 6/18/1983 Last Flight: 3/14/1995Norman Earl Thagard (born July 3, 1943), (Capt, USMC, Ret.), is an American scientist and former U.S. Marine Corps officer and naval aviator and NASA astronaut. He is the first American to ride to space on board a Russian vehicle, and can be considered the first American cosmonaut. He did on this on March 14, 1995, in the Soyuz TM-21 spacecraft for the Russian Mir-18 mission. MissionSoyuz TM-21Type: Human ExplorationSoyuz TM-21 was the 21st mission and the 18th long-duration expedition to Mir space station. It was also a part of the US/Russian Shuttle-Mir Program. The mission began on March 14, 1995, 06:11:34 UTC, launching Commander Vladimir Dezhurov, Flight Engineer Gennady Strekalov and Research Cosmonaut Norman Thagard (who became the first American to ride the Soyuz) into orbit. They docked with Mir two days later. During their stay there, cosmonauts performed several EVAs to prepare for the docking of the new Spektr module. Station crew was visited by several Progress resupply spacecrafts, and welcomed aboard the STS-71 with the 19th expedition crew. Crews exchanged vehicles, and members of the 18th expedition returned aboard STS-71, landing safely back on Earth on 7 July 1995, 14:55:28 UTC. Soyuz TM-21 brought back the 19th expedition later on September 11, 1995, 06:52:40 UTC. Location1/5Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan468 rockets have launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan. RocketSoyuz-ULength: 34.54 meters Diameter: 2.95 meters First Launch: December 23, 1982The 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.The Soyuz-U rocket has been launched a total of 63 times with 63 successful and 0 failed launches. AgencyRussian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)Type: Government Abbreviation: RFSA Administration: Administrator: Dmitry Rogozin Founded: 1992 Launchers: Soyuz Spacecraft: Soyuz Country: RUSThe 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. View Rocket Launch Schedule