**Soyuz TMA-03M**
**Definition**
Soyuz TMA-03M was a Russian crewed spaceflight mission launched in 2011 to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expedition 29/30.
**Article**
### Overview
Soyuz TMA-03M was a mission operated by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, utilizing the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft variant. It launched on October 21, 2011, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The mission’s primary objective was to deliver a three-person crew to the ISS for long-duration scientific research and station maintenance.
### Crew
The spacecraft carried three crew members: Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, American astronaut André Kuipers, and Dutch astronaut André Kuipers. The crew joined the ISS Expedition 29 crew and later transitioned to Expedition 30.
### Mission Details
Soyuz TMA-03M docked with the ISS approximately six hours after launch, following a fast rendezvous profile. The mission duration was about 166 days, concluding with a safe return to Earth on April 27, 2012. The spacecraft served as both a transport vehicle and a lifeboat during the crew’s stay aboard the station.
### Significance
This mission was part of the ongoing international collaboration aboard the ISS, contributing to scientific experiments and station upkeep. Soyuz TMA-03M demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz-TMA series for crewed spaceflight and fast rendezvous techniques.
**Meta Description**
Soyuz TMA-03M was a 2011 Russian crewed mission to the ISS, transporting three astronauts for Expedition 29/30. It showcased fast rendezvous and long-duration spaceflight capabilities.