The Soyuz-T () was the third generation of the Soyuz spacecraft and operated from 1979 to 1986. The T designation stood for "transport" (), reflecting its primary role ferrying crews to and from space stations. The design was based on the second-generation Soyuz 7K-T and incorporated experience gained from the Military Soyuz program and the Soyuz 7K-TM used for the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project.
Soyuz-T introduced several major improvements over earlier models. It was the first Soyuz to use solid-state electronics and featured an upgraded onboard computer intended to reduce the docking difficulties encountered on previous missions. Solar panels returned to the design, enabling autonomous flight for up to 11 days, and the spacecraft adopted a new propulsion system, the KTDU-426. Unlike preceding versions, Soyuz-T could carry three cosmonauts wearing pressure suits.
Missions
Between 1979 and 1986, a total of 18 Soyuz T spacecraft were launched into LEO, 13 of which carried cosmonauts to and from the space stations Salyut 6, Salyut 7, and Mir.
Mission Crew Launch Landing Duration Notes Kosmos 1001 None 4 Apr 1978 15 Apr 1978 Uncrewed test flight. Partial failure of systems led to early landing. None 31 Jan 1979 1 Apr 1979 Uncrewed test flight. Last Soyuz spacecraft with a Kosmos designation Soyuz T-1 None 16 Dec 1979 25 Mar 1980 Uncrewed test flight to Salyut 6 Soyuz T-2 Salyut 6 EP-6:Yury MalyshevVladimir Aksyonov 5 Jun 1980 9 Jun 1980 Crewed test flight to Salyut 6 Soyuz T-3 Salyut 6 EO-5:Leonid KizimOleg MakarovGennady Strekalov 27 Nov 1980 10 Dec 1980 First Soyuz mission with a three cosmonaut crew since the fatal flight of Soyuz 11 Soyuz T-4 Salyut 6 EO-6:Vladimir KovalyonokViktor Savinykh 12 Mar 1981 26 May 1981 Soyuz T-5 Salyut 7 EO-1:Anatoli BerezovoyValentin Lebedev 13 May 1982 27 Aug 1982 Both Berezovoy and Lebedev returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-7 after 211 days in space Soyuz T-6 Salyut 7 EP-1:Vladimir DzhanibekovAleksandr Ivanchenkov Jean-Loup Chrétien 24 Jun 1982 2 Jul 1982 Chrétien becomes the first French citizen in space Soyuz T-7 Salyut 7 EP-2: Leonid PopovAleksandr Serebrov Svetlana Savitskaya 19 Aug 1982 10 Dec 1982 Savitskaya becomes the second woman in space after Valentina Tereshkova in 1963. All cosmonauts returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-5 after 8 days in space Soyuz T-8 Vladimir TitovGennady Strekalov Aleksandr Serebrov 20 Apr 1983 22 Apr 1983 Failed to reach Salyut 7 after its Igla docking system was damaged during launch Soyuz T-9 Salyut 7 EO-2:Vladimir LyakhovAleksandr Aleksandrov 27 Jun 1983 23 Nov 1983 Vladimir TitovGennadi Strekalov 26 Sept 1983 Failed to reach Salyut 7 after its carrier rocket caught fire and exploded, thus activating its launch escape system Soyuz T-10 Salyut 7 EO-3:Leonid KizimVladimir SolovyovOleg Atkov 8 Feb 1984 11 Apr 1984 All cosmonauts returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-11 after 237 days in space Soyuz T-11 Salyut 7 EP-3:Yuri MalyshevGennady Strekalov Rakesh Sharma 3 Apr 1984 2 Oct 1984 Sharma becomes first Indian citizen in space. All cosmonauts returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-10 after 8 days in space Soyuz T-12 Salyut 7 EP-4:Vladimir DzhanibekovSvetlana Savitskaya Igor Volk 17 Jul 1984 29 Jul 1984 Soyuz T-13 Salyut 7 EO-4a:Vladimir DzhanibekovViktor Savinykh 6 Jun 1985 26 Sept 1985 Repaired the crippled station during their stay. Savinykh returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-14 after 168 days in space Soyuz T-14 Salyut 7 EO-4b:Vladimir VasyutinAlexander VolkovSalyut 7 EP-5:Georgi Grechko 17 Sept 1985 21 Nov 1985 Grechko returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-13 after 9 days in space. Mission ended prematurely after Vasyutin fell ill aboard the station Soyuz T-15 Salyut 7 EO-5 / Mir EO-1:Leonid KizimVladimir Solovyov 13 Mar 1986 16 Jul 1986 Visited both Salyut 7 and Mir, the only crewed spaceflight to visit two space stations
References
External links
RSC Energia: Concept Of Russian Manned Space Navigation Development