Mir-8
| Mission type | Mir expedition |
|---|---|
| Mission duration | 175.8 days (launch to landing) |
| Orbits completed | 2770 |
| Expedition | |
| Space Station | Mir |
| Began | 2 December 1990 |
| Ended | 26 May 1991 |
| Arrived aboard | Soyuz TM-11 |
| Departed aboard | Soyuz TM-11 |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | Two |
| Members |
Viktor Afanasyev Musa Manarov |
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Long-term Mir expeditions
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Mir EO-8 (Russian: Мир ЭО-19) was the eighth manned expedition to the space station Mir, lasting from December 1990 to May 1991. The crew, consisting of Russian cosmonauts Viktor Afanasyev and Musa Manarov, launched along with space journalist Toyohiro Akiyama on December 2, 1990 aboard Soyuz TM-11. Akiyama returned aboard Soyuz TM-10 with the outgoing Mir EO-7 crew on December 10. Afanasyev and Manarov returned aboard Soyuz TM-11 on May 26, 1991.
Mir EO-8 was the first spaceflight for Commander Viktor Afanasyev, who completed basic training in 1987 and advanced training in 1988. He served as backup commander for Mir EO-7. EO-8 was Musa Manarov's second spaceflight. He previously flew on Soyuz TM-4, living on Mir from December 21, 1987, to December 21, 1988. Both spent just over 175 days in space and completed 2770 orbits of the Earth during EO-8.
The crew of Mir EO-8 was launched to the Mir space station on December 2, 1990, on the Soyuz TM-11 spacecraft. Joining Afanasyev and Munarov for launch and trip to Mir was Japanese journalist Toyohiro Akiyama, an employee of TBS. TBS, a Japanese television network, paid approximately US$28 million for Akiyama's flight. Soyuz TM-11 arrived and docked with Mir two days after launch on December 4, 1990.
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