[ Russia in Space ]

Soyuz-T 9
(Salyut 7, PE-2)

Cosmonauts:
   
Vladimir A. Lyakhov [2], Commander
    Aleksandr P. Aleksandrov [1], Flight Engineer
Backup:
    Vladimir Titov
    Gennadi Strekalov
Launch:
    Date: 27 June 1983
    Time: 09:12 UTC
Landing:
    Date: 23 November 1983
    Time: 19:58 UTC
Duration: 149 days, 10 hours, 46 minutes
Call Sign: Proton

This crew worked aboard the Salyut 7 space station. The station was struck my a micrometeorite on 25 July 1983. A visible mark was left on one of the windows. Another mishap occurred on 9 September when a fuel line ruptured during refuelling by an unmanned Progress cargo ship. The Salyut's control system was damaged and the crew had to take refuge in the Soyuz capsule until ground controllers could be sure the Salyut was safe.

Because of the failure of Soyuz-T 10-1, the crew had to stay in orbit well beyond the 100 day safety limitation of the Soyuz-T vessels.