Soyuz TM-23 launched 1996

Soyuz TM-23 crew: Yuri Onufrienko, Yury Usachov

Soyuz TM-23, launched February 21, 1996, was the 25th manned mission to the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Yuri Onufrienko and Flight Engineer Yury Usachov.  It docked with Mir on February 23, and joined expedition EO-21 which included Shannon Lucid.

They performed an EVA on March 15, the second on May 20, a third May 24, the fourth on May 30, the fifth on June 6 and the final one on June 13. 

Soyuz TM-23 undocked from Mir on September 2 and returned to Earth with Claudie Andre-Deshays on board.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Yuri Onufriyenko!

Yuri Onufriyenko, born February 6, 1961 in Ukraine, is a veteran of three space flights (one Soyuz, two space shuttles), which included extended stays aboard Mir and the International Space Station.

His first trip into space was aboard Soyuz TM-23 in February 1996 to Mir as commander of the Mir EO-21 expedition.  He returned to Earth September 2.

His next mission was to the International Space Station aboard Endeavour (STS-108) December 2001 where he would serve as commander of Expedition 4.

He returned to Earth on Endeavour (STS-111) June 2002.