The third generation: Soyuz T

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The third generation Soyuz T, meaning as a transport between years 1976 and 1986. The improvement consisted of solar panels allowing longer endurance of mission, revised Igla rendezvous system, and new thruster system on the Service Module. It could carry three members of the crew, wearing spacesuits. The revised spacecraft as well included all what was learned from the Apollo-Soyuz Test project, Soyuz 7K-TM and Military Soyuz. 



The Soyuz T got upgrade in electronics and advanced onboard computer to solve the chronic problems with docking. Also solar panels returned as stable component. 

 The major objective of the Soyuz T was to transport crew to space station Salyut and Mir. The first was launched Soyuz T-1 in December 1979 and the last was launched Soyuz T-15 in March 1986: 
  • Soyuz T-1 was unmanned test flight which docked with the space station Salyut 6.  
  • Soyuz T-2 was manned test flight and visit of the space station Salyut 6. 
  • Soyuz T-3 was the first mission to the space station Salyut 6 and to carried 3 cosmonauts since 1971.  
  • Soyuz T-4 was mission to the space station Salyut 6 in 1981. For example they have spent time to unloading Progress 12 docked with the station before they arrived. 
  • Salyut 7 from Soyuz T-13

  • Soyuz T-5 was mission to the new space station Salyut 7 in 1982. While they have been docked, they have received visits from the unmanned Progress 13 resupply cargo, and manned Soyuz T-6 and T-7. 
  • Soyuz T-6 mission included the first French cosmonaut onboard the Soyuz. They have performed cardiovascular echography experiments. 
  • Soyuz T-7 was the third mission to the space station Salyut 7 in December 1982 and carried a woman to the space after almost 20 years. 
  • Soyuz T-8 was mission to the space station Salyut 7 but failed to dock due to the incident with antenna during the launch. They have returned safely. 
  • Soyuz T-9 was forth mission to Salyut 7. Small object hit the window of the Salyut 7. 
  • Soyuz T-10-1 failed already before the launch due to the fire. Escape system fired the vehicle 2 second before the launch vehicle exploded, saving the crew onboard. 
  • Soyuz T-10 was mission to Salyut 7 which was left empty due to the previous accident. 
  • Soyuz T-11 was mission to the space station Salyut 7 carrying first Indian cosmonaut in 1984. 
  • Soyuz T-12 was mission to the space station Salyut 7 in 1984 while the first woman performed her spacewalk. 
  • Soyuz T-13 was mission to the space station Salyut 7 in 1985 left unmanned and they have needed to make repairs on the station. Docking with the station needed to be done manually. 
  • Soyuz T-14 was a mission to the space station Salyut 7 and was ended earlier due to the medical reasons of one member. 
  • Soyuz T-15 was the last mission to the space station Salyut 7 and the first mission to the space station Mir in 1986. It was also the last flight of the Soyuz-T. The first docked with the Mir space station. The Mir's forward port was planned for the newer Soyuz-TM with the Kurs approach system, and the aft port was planned for the Progress spacecraft. The older Soyuz-T was equipped with the older Igla approach system which could be used only for the aft port. Closest distance of both stations were about 2500 km. 

Soyuz T-7

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