Soyuz T-9 launched 1983

Soyuz T-9 crew: Aleksandr Aleksandrov, Vladimir Lyakhov

Soyuz T-9, launched June 27, 1983, was the fourth expedition to the Salyut 7 space station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Vladimir Lyakhov and Aleksandr Aleksandrov.  The previous mission Soyuz T-8 and the next one, Soyuz T-10-1 both failed.

The crew returned to Earth in November.

Soyuz ТМ-5 launched 1988

Soyuz TM-5 crew (L-R):  Viktor Savinyhk, Anatoly Solovyev, Aleksandr Aleksandrov

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-5, launched June 7, 1988, was the fifth manned mission to the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Anatoly Solovyev, Viktor Savinnykh and Aleksandr Aleksandrov.  They were the crew of Mir EP-2. 

Soyuz TM-5 returned to Earth in September with Vladimir Lyakhov and Abdul Ahad Mohmand. 

Soyuz 34 launched 1979

Soyuz 34, launched June 6, 1979, was an unmanned spacecraft sent to supply the Salyut 6's resident crew after Soyuz 33 suffered engine failure.  Soyuz 34 returned to Earth on August 19, bringing Vladimir Lyakhov and Valery Ryumin home.

Soyuz 32 launched 1979

Soyuz 32 crew: Vladimir Lyakhov, Valery Ryumin

Mission patch

Soyuz 32, launched February 25, 1979, was the seventh successful mission to space station Salyut 6.  Its crew consisted of Commander Vladimir Lyakhov and Valery Ryumin.  They set a record at the time for longest duration in space, 175 days.

A visiting crew (Soyuz 33) failed to dock to Salyut 6, so the cosmonauts had no visitors during their stay.  They returned to Earth June 13.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Valery Ryumin!

Valery Ryumin, born August 16, 1939 in the former Soviet Union, is a veteran of three Soyuz missions and one Space Shuttle flight.

His first mission into space was aboard Soyuz 25 in October 1977 as Flight Engineer.  It was the first mission to new Salyut 6, but after five attempts failed at engaging docking latches, the trip was aborted.  This led to a new rule such that every crew had to have at least one non-rookie on board.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz 32 to Salyut 6, launched in February 1979.  Although he and Commander Vladimir Lyakhov docked successfully, the visiting crew did not. The Soviets decided to have Soyuz 32 returned to Earth with no one aboard, to serve as a replacement vehicle.  They returned to Earth on Soyuz 34 in August.

Just eight months later, Ryumin was back in space aboard Soyuz 35 to Salyut 6. He spent 185 days in space, setting a new record for the time.  He returned to Earth October 1980 on Soyuz 37.

His final mission into space was aboard Discovery (STS-91) in June 1998.  It was the final Space Shuttle mission to the Mir space Station.

He is married to fellow cosmonaut Yelena Kondakova. 

Vladimir Lyakhov, cosmonaut, born 1941

Vladimir Lyakhov, born July 20, 1941 in the former Soviet Union, spent almost a year in space on three different missions.

His first  mission was as commander on Soyuz 32 to Salyut 6, launched February 25, 1979.  He returned to Earth June 13.

His second mission was as commander on Soyuz T-9 to Salyut 7, launched June 27, 1983.  He returned  to Earth November 23.

His third and final mission was commander of Soyuz TM-6 to the space station Mir, launched August 29,  1988.  He commanded Mir EP-3, a week long (short term) mission after which he returned to Earth on Soyuz TM-5. 

He passed away April 19, 2018.

First Afghan Cosmonaut in space aboard Soyuz TM-6 1988

Soyuz TM-6 crew (L-R): Abdul Ahad Mohmand, Vladimir Lyakhov, Valeri Polyakov

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-6, the sixth manned mission to the Space Station Mir, launched August 29, 1988 with two Russian cosmonauts Vladimir Lyakhov and Valeri Polyakov, and the first Afghan cosmonaut Abdul Ahad Mohmand.  It is rumored he is the first Muslim to take the Qu'ran into space.  He spent 9 days in before returning to the former Soviet Union and was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on September 7, 1988.