Soyuz TM-6

Launch & orbit data: Designation  19443 / 88075A Launch date - time  29 Aug 1988 - 04:23:11 UT Launch site  Baikonur, LC1 Launch vehicle  Soyuz 11A511U2 OKB name - S/Nº  Soyuz 7K-STM (11F732) s/nº 56. Mass (kg)  7.070 Flight Crew (EP-3)  Lyakhov, Vladimir (CDR) Poliakov, Valeri (MR) Mohmand, Abdul (CR) Call Sign  Proton Earth orbit on :    - Perigee / Apogee  195 x 228 km    - Inclination  51.6°    - Period  88.7 min

Docking & landing data: Docking date - time  31 Aug 1988 - 05:40:44 UT Target spacecraft/port  Mir/aft Kvant Undocking date - time   Redocking date - time   UT Target spacecraft/port  Mir/fore Undocking date - time  21 Dec 1988 - 02:32:54 UT Deorbit burn date - time   Landing date - time  21 Dec 1988 - 09:57:00 UT Landing location  46°N, 69°E Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  114.23 days Nbr orbits   Landing crew  Titov V., Manarov M., Chrétien  (crew TM-4 & TM-7)

Crew

Backup Crew

Soyuz TM-6 - Polyakov and Mohmand move equipment around Mir. - Credit: RKK Energia.

Transported to the Mir orbital station a Soviet-Afghan crew comprising the cosmonauts V A Lyakhov, V V Polyakov and A A Momand (Afghanistan) to conduct joint research and experiments with the cosmonauts V G Titov and M K Manarov. Returned Manarov, Titov (Soyuz TM-4), Chretien (Soyuz TM-7) to Earth. Initial orbit 195 X 228 km at 51. 57 deg. Maneuvered to a 235 x 259 km orbit, then docked with Mir at 05:41 GMT on 31 August at its 339 x 366 km orbit. Moved from aft to forward port 8 Sept 88. Undocked 03:33 GMT 21 December 1989. Revised software installed as a result of TM-5 abort overloaded computer. Landing planned for 06:48 aborted. Backup program used. Orbital Module retained through retrofire. Recovered December 21, 1988 09:57 GMT. Landed 180 km SE Dzhezkazgan.

Flight

Astrophilately covers:

Launch and docking cancel Baikonur, signed by crew.

Cosmic Mail: Special French CNES cancel and Mir octagonal boardcancel 28.11.88 (docking Soyuz TM-7) signed by crew, Poliakov (TM-6) and TM-4 resident crew: Titov and Manarov.