MIR: Expedition 27
(EO-27)

Launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome; landing 76 km northeast of Arkalyk.

This was the first mission under Russian lead with three cosmonauts from three different countries. Two crew seats had been sold (to Slovakia and France). This meant that Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Avdeyev already aboard MIR would have to accept a double-length assignment. Following a two day solo flight Soyuz TM-29 docked with the MIR space station on February 22, 1999.

Ivan Bella, the first Slovak in space, carried out the Stefanik research program. Viktor Afanasiyev and Jean-Pierre Haigneré became together with Sergei Avdeyev the 27th resident crew of MIR.

Progress M-41 docked uneventfully with the MIR complex on April 04, 1999. It also delivered the Sputnik-99 amateur radio satellite.

The first EVA was conducted by Viktor Afanasiyev and Jean-Pierre Haigneré on April 16, 1999 (6h 19m). Jean-Pierre Haigneré launched by hand the Sputnik-99 amateur radio satellite which was delivered to MIR by Progress M-41. In addition the cosmonauts installed experiments at the outer surface of the complex and retrieved experiments which had been installed in the past from there.

Progress M-42 docked with the space station on July 19, 1999. It delivered supplies to the crew of the MIR complex.

Viktor Afanasiyev and Sergei Avdeyev performed a second EVA on July 23, 1999 (6h 07m). The cosmonauts installed a new experimental 6-meter antenna but failed to deploy it. Viktor Afanasiyev was only able to open the antenna for 80 or 90%. In addition during the EVA the cosmonauts had to retrieve some experiments from the outer surface. They succeeded to do so with the experiments Exobiology and Dvikon. The EVA ended in a great hurry due to a failure of the thermoregulation in the spacesuit of Viktor Afanasiyev. A filter was overheated.

The third an final EVA was again performed by Viktor Afanasiyev and Sergei Avdeyev on July 28, 1999 (5h 22m). This time the unfolding of the antenna was successful.