Soyuz-TM 7. The Soyuz-TM land landing system is effective at reducing velocity in the vertical direction. However, according to cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, winds at the landing site often impart considerable horizontal velocity. As a result, about 80% of all Soyuz descent modules come to rest on their sides. During the rough landing, Krikalev suffered a minor injury to his knee.[1] |}
| Soyuz-TM 8 | September 5, 1989-February 19, 1990 | |
| Alexander Viktorenko, Alexandr Serebrov Crew code name—Vityaz Launch vehicle was painted with advertisements. During final approach to Mir (4 m distance), the Kurs system malfunctioned, so Viktorenko took over manual control and withdrew to 20 m. He then docked manually. Spent 166 days attached to Mir. | ||
| Soyuz-TM 9 | February 11-August 9, 1990 | |
| Anatoli Solovyov, Alexandr Balandin Crew code name—Rodnik During docking, cosmonauts aboard Mir noticed that three of the eight thermal blankets (layers of foil vacuum-shield insulation) on the descent module of the approaching Soyuz-TM 9 spacecraft had come loose from their attachments near the heat shield, yet remained attached at their top ends. The main concern was that the capsule might cool down, permitting condensation to form inside and short out its electrical systems. There was also fear that the blankets might block the infrared vertical sensor, which oriented the module for reentry. Three other areas of concern emerged: that the explosive bolts binding the service module to the descent module might fail to work after direct exposure to space, that the heat shield might be compromised by direct space exposure, and that an EVA to repair the blankets might cause additional damage. Consideration was given to flying Soyuz-TM 10 with one cosmonaut aboard as a rescue mission. During an EVA, the cosmonauts folded back two of the three blankets and left the third alone. During reentry, the cosmonauts ejected both the orbital module and the service module simultaneously in an effort to minimize the chances that a blanket could snag. Normally the orbital module went first. The descent module suffered no damage as a result of its prolonged exposure to space conditions. Reentry occurred as normal. | ||
| Soyuz-TM 10 | August 1-December 10, 1990 | |
| Launch crew—Gennadi Manakov, Gennadi Strekalov Crew code name—Elbrus Landing crew—Gennadi Manakov, Gennadi Strekalov, Toyohiro Akiyama/Japan | ||
- ↑ Interview, David S. F. Portree with Sergei Krikalev, February 28, 1994.
