Soyuz MS-11 facts for kids
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The launch of Soyuz MS-11
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| Operator | Roscosmos |
|---|---|
| Mission duration | 203d 15h 15m 58s |
| Distance travelled | 86,430,555 statute miles |
| Orbits completed | 3264 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Soyuz-MS 11F747 No. 741 |
| Manufacturer | RKK Energia |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 3 |
| Members | Oleg Kononenko Anne McClain David Saint-Jacques |
| Callsign | Antares |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 3 December 2018, 11:31 UTC |
| Rocket | Soyuz-FG |
| Launch site | Baikonur Pad 1/5 |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 25 June 2019, 02:47:50 UTC |
| Landing site | 148 km SE of Dzheskasgan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Inclination | 51.6º |
| Docking with ISS | |
| Docking port | Poisk zenith |
| Docking date | 3 December 2018, 17:33 UTC |
| Undocking date | 24 June 2019, 23:25:30 UTC |
| Time docked | 203d 5h 52m |
 (l-r) McClain, Kononenko and Saint-Jacques Soyuz programme
(Crewed missions) |
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Soyuz MS-11 was a special space mission that launched on December 3, 2018. This launch was a big deal because it was the 100th space launch of that year! The mission carried three brave astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew included a Russian commander, an American, and a Canadian flight engineer. They spent over 200 days living and working in space. The launch date was moved up after an earlier mission, Soyuz MS-10, had a problem.
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Meet the Astronauts
The Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft carried three astronauts. They were part of Expedition 58, a team living on the International Space Station.
- Commander: Oleg Kononenko from Russia. This was his fourth trip to space!
- Flight Engineer 1: David Saint-Jacques from Canada. This was his first time in space.
- Flight Engineer 2: Anne McClain from the United States. This was also her first space journey.
These astronauts worked together on the ISS. They performed many science experiments and kept the space station running smoothly.
Who Were the Backup Crew?
Just like in sports, space missions have a backup team. These astronauts train just as hard. They are ready to go if the main crew cannot fly for any reason.
- Backup Commander: Aleksandr Skvortsov from Russia.
- Backup Flight Engineer 1: Luca Parmitano from Italy.
- Backup Flight Engineer 2: Andrew R. Morgan from the United States.
The Journey to Space
The Soyuz MS-11 mission used a Soyuz-FG rocket. It launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This launch site is very famous. It is called Gagarin's Start because the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, launched from there.
The spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station just a few hours after launch. It connected to the Poisk module on the ISS. The crew then began their long stay in orbit.
Life in Orbit
The crew of Soyuz MS-11 spent 203 days, 15 hours, and 15 minutes in space. During this time, they orbited Earth 3,264 times! That's a lot of trips around our planet. They traveled an amazing 86,430,555 miles.
Their mission was part of Expedition 58. Astronauts on the ISS do important work. They conduct scientific research in microgravity. They also maintain the space station itself.
Returning Home
After their long mission, the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft undocked from the ISS. This happened on June 24, 2019. The crew then prepared for their return to Earth.
The spacecraft landed safely on June 25, 2019. It touched down in Kazakhstan. This area is a common landing spot for Soyuz missions. The astronauts were quickly met by recovery teams. They were happy to be back on solid ground after their incredible journey.
See also
In Spanish: Soyuz MS-11 para niños
