Soyuz TM-26 was a crewed spacecraft launched on December 21, 1996, as part of the Soyuz program. It was designed to transport astronauts to and from the Mir space station, which was a key component of human space exploration during the 1990s. The mission lasted approximately 180 days, with a crew of three. The spacecraft was notable for its role in supporting long-duration missions aboard Mir. During its time in orbit, the crew conducted various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks, contributing to the understanding of living and working in space. Soyuz TM-26 returned to Earth on June 25, 1997.