Soyuz TMA-21 ("Gagarin") was a Soyuz flight to the International Space Station (ISS). It transported three members of the Expedition 27 crew to the ISS, and docked at the station on April 6, 2011. TMA-21 is the 109th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first of which launched in 1967. The Soyuz remained attached to the space station as a lifeboat, throughout the remainder of Expedition 27 and through the end of Expedition 28, and returned to Earth on September 16, 2011.
From left to right: Garan, Samokutyayev and Borisenko in front their Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft dubbed "Gagarin"Soyuz programme (Crewed missions)← Soyuz TMA-20Soyuz TMA-02M →
The Soyuz TMA-21 crew members conduct their ceremonial tour of Red Square on March 11, 2011.
Garan stands in front of the Soyuz booster which bears the name and likeness of Yuri Gagarin.
The Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft on the launch pad.
Expedition 27 was the 27th long-duration expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), starting on 16 March 2011. Expedition 27 saw numerous notable events, including the undocking of the Progress M-09M and Kounotori 2 spacecraft, the arrival of the Soyuz TMA-21 and Progress M-10M spacecraft, and the final rendezvous with the ISS of NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour, on its last mission, STS-134. The expedition ended on 23 May 2011 with the departure of the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft, although command of the station was ceremonially handed over to the crew of Expedition 28 on 22 May.
Promotional Poster
(l-r) Garan, Nespoli, Samokutyayev, Coleman, Borisenko and KondratyevISS expeditions← Expedition 26Expedition 28 →
Borisenko, Garan, and Samokutyaev wave farewell from the bottom of the Soyuz rocket prior to their launch.
The Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft on its launchpad.