Soyuz T-2

Flight Crew

Mission details:

• On June 5, 1980, the Soyuz-U launch vehicle with the Soyuz T-2 transport manned spacecraft (TPK) was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome under the program of the second expedition to visit the Salyut-6 orbital station. The first test flight with the crew on board was the beginning of the full-scale operation of the new triple modification of the Soyuz T TPK developed and produced by NPO Energia (now SPKorolev RSC Energia).
• The modernized Soyuz T TPK was created under the leadership of the Chief Designer Konstantin Davydovich Bushuyev and was designed to deliver crews to long-term Salyut-type orbital stations. The successful program of unmanned flight design tests, conducted in 1978-1979, allowed us to move on to the manned phase of flight tests of the new ship.
• On June 6, 1980, Soyuz T-2, under the command of commander Yuri Malyshev and flight engineer Vladimir Aksyonov, manually docked at Salyut-6 station, where the crew of the fourth main expedition, Leonid Popov and Valery Ryumin, worked at that time. The ship arrived with a short-term mission to test the functioning of on-board systems and units in joint flight with the orbital station. Along the way, Salyut-6 delivered office equipment and scientific equipment, fresh food and mail.
• On June 9, 1980, the Soyuz T-2 with the crew undocked from the orbital station and automatically executed the descent and landing program in the calculated area of Kazakhstan. After separation inspection flight around the spacestation.
• In total, the Soyuz T series aircraft made 14 flights to the Salyut-6, Salyut-7, and Mir orbital stations, creating the basis for the development of further modifications of the spacecraft from Soyuz TM, Soyuz TMA, Soyuz TMA-M ”to the modern“ Soyuz MS ”.

Malyshev and Aksyonov

Astrophilately covers:

New launch cancel Baikonur, send registrated.

Cosmic Mail: Cover on board of Salyut 6, with new five-side Salyut boardcancel and Soyuz-Salyut cancel. Signed by Malyshev, Aksyonov and Soyuz 35 crew: Popov and Ryumin.

Undocking and landing date cancel Dzheskasgan.