Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Soyuz (rocket family)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Soyuz (Russian: Союз, meaning "union", GRAU index
11A511) is a family of expendable launch systems developed Soyuz
by OKB1, and manufactured by Progress State Research
and Production Rocket Space Center in Samara, Russia. The
Soyuz launch vehicle is the most frequently used and reliable
launch vehicle in the world.[1]
After the U.S. Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, Soyuz
rockets became the only launch vehicle able to transport
astronauts to the International Space Station.
The Soyuz vehicles are used as the launcher for the manned
Soyuz spacecraft as part of the Soyuz program, as well as to
launch unmanned Progress supply spacecraft to the
International Space Station and for commercial launches
marketed and operated by Starsem and Arianespace. All
Soyuz rockets use RP1 and liquid oxygen (LOX) propellant,
with the exception of the SoyuzU2, which used Syntin, a
variant of RP1, with LOX. In the United States, it has the A SoyuzU on the launch pad, ahead of the
Library of Congress designation A2. The Soyuz family is a Soyuz 19 (ASTP) launch on 15 July 1975
subset of the R7 family. Function Carrier rocket
Manufacturer OKB1
Progress State Research and
Contents Production Rocket Space Center
Country of Soviet Union
1 History
1.1 A space workhorse origin Russia
1.2 Soyuz / Fregat Size
1.3 ISS crew transport
1.4 Recent incidents Stages 3
1.5 Soyuz2 and Guyana spaceport Associated rockets
2 Variants
Family R7
3 Assembling the rocket
4 Launch pad Launch history
5 Launch Status Active
6 Fairings used for unmanned missions
7 Stages Launch sites Baikonur Sites 1/5 & 31/6
7.1 First stage Plesetsk Sites 41, 16 & 43
7.2 Second stage Kourou ELS (with ESA)
7.3 Third stage Vostochny Site 1S
8 See also
9 References First flight 28 November 1966
10 Further reading Notable Soyuz
11 External links payloads Progress
History
A space workhorse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 1/8
15/07/2016 Soyuz (rocket family) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Soyuz launcher was introduced in 1966, deriving from the Vostok
launcher, which in turn was based on the 8K74 or R7a intercontinental
ballistic missile. It was initially a threestage rocket with a Block I upper
stage. Later a Molniya variant was produced by adding a fourth stage,
allowing it to reach the highly elliptical molniya orbit. A later variant
was the SoyuzU.[2]
The production of Soyuz launchers reached a peak of 60 per year in the
early 1980s. It has become the world's most used space launcher, flying Soyuz rocket engines
over 1700 times, far more than any other rocket. Despite its age and
perhaps thanks to its simplicity, this rocket family has been notable for
its low cost and very high reliability, both of which appeal to commercial clients.
Soyuz / Fregat
In the early 1990s plans were made for a redesigned Soyuz with a Fregat upper stage. The Fregat engine was
developed by NPO Lavochkin from the propulsion module of its Phobos interplanetary probes. Although
endorsed by the Russian Space Agency and the Russian Ministry of Defence in 1993 and designated "Rus" as a
Russification and modernisation of Soyuz, and later renamed Soyuz2, a funding shortage prevented
implementation of the plan. The creation of Starsem in July 1996 provided new funding for the creation of a
less ambitious variant, the SoyuzFregat or Soyuz U/Fregat. This consisted of a slightly modified Soyuz U
combined with the Fregat upper stage, with a capacity of up to 1,350 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. In April
1997, Starsem obtained a contract from the European Space Agency to launch two pairs of Cluster 2 plasma
science satellites using the SoyuzFregat. Before the introduction of this new model, Starsem launched 24
satellites of the Globalstar constellation in 6 launches with a restartable Ikar upper stage, between September
22, 1999 and November 22, 1999. After successful test flights of SoyuzFregat on February 9, 2000 and March
20, 2000, the Cluster 2 satellites were launched on July 16, 2000 and August 9, 2000. Another SoyuzFregat
launched the ESA's Mars Express probe from Baikonur in June 2003. Now the SoyuzFregat launcher is used
by Starsem for commercial payloads.
ISS crew transport
Between February 1, 2003 and July 26, 2005 with the grounding of the U.S.
Space Shuttle fleet, Soyuz was the only means of transportation to and from the
International Space Station. This included the transfer of supplies, via Progress
spacecraft, and crew changeovers. Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle
fleet in 2011, the U.S. space program is without any means to take astronauts
into orbit, and NASA is dependent on the Soyuz to send crew into space for the
immediate future.[3] NASA is scheduled to resume manned flights from the
USA in 2017 through the Commercial Crew Development program.
Recent incidents
SoyuzFG erected at the
Baikonur Cosmodrome A long string of successful Soyuz launches was broken on October 15, 2002
launch pad 1/5 Gagarin's when the unmanned Soyuz U launch of the PhotonM satellite from Plesetsk fell
Start (October 2008) back near the launch pad and exploded 29 seconds after liftoff. One person
from the ground crew was killed and eight injured. Another failure occurred on
June 21, 2005, during a Molniya military communications satellite launch from
the Plesetsk launch site, which used a fourstage version of the rocket called MolniyaM. The flight ended six
minutes after the launch because of a failure of the third stage engine or an unfulfilled order to separate the
second and third stages. The rocket's second and third stages, which are identical to the Soyuz, and its payload
(a Molniya3K satellite) crashed in the Uvatski region of Tyumen (Siberia).[4] On August 24, 2011, an
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 2/8
15/07/2016 Soyuz (rocket family) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
unmanned SoyuzU carrying cargo to the International Space Station crashed, failing to reach orbit. On
December 23, 2011 a Soyuz2.1b launching a Meridian5 military communications satellite failed in the 7th
minute of launch because of an anomaly in the third stage.[5]
Soyuz2 and Guyana spaceport
The venerable Soyuz launcher is gradually being replaced by a new
version, now named Soyuz/ST (or Soyuz2), which has a new digital
guidance system and a highly modified third stage with a new engine.
The first development version of Soyuz 2 called Soyuz21a, which is
already equipped with the digital guidance system, but is still propelled
by an old third stage engine, started on November 4, 2004 from Plesetsk
on a suborbital test flight, followed by an orbital flight on October 23,
2006 from Baikonur. The fully modified launcher (version Soyuz21b)
flew first on December 27, 2006 with the CoRoT satellite from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome.
On 19 January 2005, the European Space Agency and the Russian
Federal Space Agency agreed to launch Soyuz/ST rockets from the
Guiana Space Centre.[6] The equatorial launch site allows the Soyuz to
deliver 2.7 to 4.9 tonnes into sunsynchronous orbit, depending on the
thirdstage engine used.[7] Construction of a new pad started in 2005 and
was completed in April 2011. The pad used vertical loading common at Soyuz 2 ready to launch (2007)
Guiana, unlike the horizontal loading used at the Baikonur
Cosmodrome.[8] A simulated launch was conducted in early May
2011.[9] The first operational launch happened on 21 October 2011, bearing the first two satellites in Galileo
global positioning system.
The SoyuzU and SoyuzFG rockets, which are still in service, are gradually being replaced by Soyuz2 from
2014 onwards and should be retired in 2016.
Variants
Soyuz 11A511 (19661975)
SoyuzL 11A511L (19701971)
SoyuzM 11A511M (19711976)
SoyuzU 11A511U (1973today)
SoyuzU2 11A511U2 or 11A511K (19821995)
SoyuzFG 11A511UFG (2001today)
Soyuz2 14A14 (2006today)
The MolniyaM (19642010) was also derived from the Soyuz family.
Assembling the rocket
The rocket is assembled horizontally in the Assembly and Testing Building. The assembled rocket is
transported to the launch site in its horizontal state and then raised. This is different from the vertical assembly
of, for example, the Saturn V – one of the features which makes Soyuz cheaper to prepare for launch.
Assembling a horizontally positioned rocket is relatively simple as all modules are easily accessible. Also,
assembling the rocket in vertical position would require a windproof highrise hangar, which was not considered
economically feasible at the time the rocket was designed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 3/8
15/07/2016 Soyuz (rocket family) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Launch pad
The entire rocket is suspended
in the launch system by the
loadbearing mechanisms on
the strapon boosters where
they are attached to the central
core. The latter rests on the Soyuz rocket assembly: the first
nose sections of the strapon and second stages are in the
boosters. This scheme background, already joined
resembles flight conditions together; the third stage is in the
when the strapon boosters lower left corner of the image.
Soyuz TMA13 being erected at the
push the central core forward. The Soyuz spacecraft, covered by
Gagarin's Start launch pad, October 10,
The concept of suspending the its launch shroud, is in the lower
2008.
rocket was one of the novelties right corner.
introduced with the R7/Soyuz.
Since the launch pad has been eliminated, the bottom portion of the missile is lowered. The launch system
trusses bear the wind loads. Resistance to high wind is an important feature of the launch system, as the
Kazakhstan steppes, where the Baikonur launch site is located, are known for windstorms.
Launch
During launch, the support booms track the movement of the rocket. After the
support boom heads emerge from the special support recess in the nose sections
of the strapons, the support booms and trusses disconnect from the rocket
airframe, swiveling on the support axes and freeing the way for the rocket to lift
off. During launch, the rocket and the launch facility form a single dynamic
system.
When the strapon booster engines stop, the boosters fall away, providing
nonimpact separation. If the skies are clear, ground observers can see a Korolev
cross formed by the falling boosters.
Fairings used for unmanned missions
The Soyuz LV is used for various Russian unmanned missions and is also
marketed by Starsem for commercial satellite launches. Presently the following A SoyuzFG rocket, carrying
fairing types are used: a Soyuz TMA spacecraft,
launches from Baikonur,
Progress is the cargo spacecraft for unmanned missions to the ISS and Kazakhstan.
previously to Mir. The spacecraft uses a dedicated platform and fairing and can
be launched with either SoyuzU, SoyuzFG or Soyuz2.
Atype fairing is used for commercial launches.
Stype fairing is used for commercial launches by Starsem. The fairing has external diameter of 3.7 m and a
length of 7.7 m. The Fregat upper stage is encapsulated in the fairing with the payload and a payload
adapter/dispenser.[10] Stype fairing along with Fregat upper stage were used to launch the following spacecraft:
Galaxy 14, GIOVE A, Mars Express, AMOS2, Venus Express, Cluster.[11]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 4/8
15/07/2016 Soyuz (rocket family) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SLtype fairing is used for commercial launches by Starsem. The fairing has external diameter of 3.7 m and a
length of 8.45 m. The Fregat upper stage is encapsulated in the fairing with the payload and a payload
adapter/dispenser.[12] SLtype fairing along with Fregat upper stage were used to launch the following
spacecraft: COROT.
STtype fairing is used for commercial launches by Starsem. Its external diameter is 4.1 m and its length is 11.4
m. It can be used with the Soyuz2 only, because older analog control system cannot cope with aerodynamic
instability introduced by a fairing as large as this. This carbonplastic fairing is based on the proven
configuration used for Arianespace’s Ariane 4 vehicles, with its length increased by approximately one
additional meter.[13] The fairing has been developed and is being manufactured by TsSKBProgress in
accordance with the requirements of a customer (Starsem). This will be the only fairing type offered by
Starsem/Arianespace for launches from Kourou.[14]
Stages
First stage
The first stage of Soyuz rockets consists of four identical conical liquid
booster rockets, strapped to the second stage core. Each booster has a
single rocket motor with four combustion chambers, two vernier
combustion chambers, and one set of turbopumps.
Statistics (each of 4 boosters)
Gross mass: 44.5 t (98,100 lbm)
Propellant: 39.2 t (86,400 lbm)
Dry mass: 3,784 kg (8,342 lbm)
Diameter: 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
Length: 19.6 m (64 ft 4 in)
Burn time: 118 s
Engines:
Soyuz and SoyuzU models
RD107
Thrust 813 kN (183 klbf) at liftoff
Thrust 991 kN (223 klbf) in vacuum
Specific impulse 245 seconds (2.40 km/s) at
liftoff
Specific impulse 310 seconds (3.0 km/s) in The first stage hauling a crew up to
vacuum ISS, 2006
Chamber pressure 5.85 MPa (848 psi)
SoyuzST models
RD117 (11D511)
Thrust 838 kN (188 klbf) at liftoff
Thrust 1021 kN (230 klbf) in vacuum
Specific impulse 245 seconds (2.40 km/s) at liftoff (est)
Specific impulse 310 seconds (3.0 km/s) in vacuum (est)
Chamber pressure 5.85 MPa (848 psi)
SoyuzFG
RD107A (14D22)
Thrust 775 kN (174 klbf) at liftoff
Specific impulse 320.2 seconds (3.140 km/s) in vacuum
Second stage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 5/8
15/07/2016 Soyuz (rocket family) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The second stage of the Soyuz booster is a single, generally cylindrical
stage with one motor at the base. Like each of the firststage rockets, it
also has four combustion chambers and one set of turbopumps, but four
(instead of two) vernier combustion chambers. The second stage tapers
toward the bottom to allow the four firststage rockets to fit more
closely together.
Gross mass: 105.4 t (232,400 lbm)
Propellant: 95.4 t (210,000 lbm)
Propellant (SoyuzU2 with Syntin propellant): 96.4 t
(212,000 lbm) Here the four first stage boosters fall
Dry mass: 6,875 kg (15,160 lbm) away, creating a cross smoke pattern
Length: 28 m (91 ft 10 in) in the sky
Diameter: 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
Burn time: 290 s
Engines:
Soyuz and SoyuzU models
RD108
Thrust 779 kN (175 klbf) at liftoff
Thrust 997 kN (224 klbf) in vacuum
Specific impulse 264 seconds (2.59 km/s) at liftoff
Specific impulse 311 seconds (3.05 km/s) in vacuum
Chamber pressure 5.1 MPa (740 psi)
SoyuzU2 model with Syntin fuel
RD108
Thrust 811 kN (182 klbf) at liftoff
Thrust 1009 kN (227 klbf) in vacuum
Specific impulse 264 seconds (2.59 km/s) at liftoff
Specific impulse 311 seconds (3.05 km/s) in vacuum
Chamber pressure 5.1 MPa (740 psi)
SoyuzST models
RD118 (11D512)
Thrust 792 kN (178 klbf) at liftoff
Thrust 990 kN (222 klbf) in vacuum
Specific impulse 264 seconds (2.59 km/s) at liftoff (est)
Specific impulse 311 seconds (3.05 km/s) in vacuum (est)
Chamber pressure 5.85 MPa (848 psi)
Third stage
There are two variant upper stages in use, the Block I and Improved BlockI (used in Soyuz21b).
Gross mass: 25.2 t (55,600 lbm)
Propellant: 21.422.9 t (47,200–50,500 lbm)
Dry mass: 2355 kg (5190 lbm)
Length: 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
Diameter: 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in)
Burn time: 240 s
Engine:
Block I
RD0110
Thrust 298 kN (67.0 klbf)
Specific impulse 330 seconds (3.2 km/s)
Chamber pressure 6.8 MPa (986 psi)
Improved Block I
RD0124 (11D451)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 6/8
15/07/2016 Soyuz (rocket family) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thrust 294 kN (66 klbf)
Specific impulse 359 seconds (3.52 km/s)
Chamber pressure 16.2 MPa (2350 psi)
See also
Comparison of orbital launchers families
References
1. "Soyuz launch vehicle: The most reliable means of space travel".
European Space Agency. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
One of the common payloads of the
2. " "Soyuz" series launch vehicles". Samara Space Centre. Archived from
the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2013. Soyuz rocket family, a Soyuz
3. Stephen Clark (27 May 2014). "NASA's latest Soyuz seat procurement spacecraft. This one is for an
may be its last". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 29 May 2014. international docking mission with
4. "MolniyaM accident caused by engine failure or unfulfilled order". RIA Apollo spacecraft of the USA
Novosti. June 21, 2005. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
5. Jonathan Amos (23 December 2011). "Another Soyuz rocket launch
fails". BBC News. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
6. "Closer ties between ESA and Russia". European Space Agency. 19
January 2005. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
7. "Soyuz at the European Spaceport" (PDF). European Space Agency. Nov
2007. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
8. "Soyuz launch site ready for first flight". European Space Agency. 1 April
2011. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
9. "First Soyuz almost ready for launch from French Guiana". European
Space Agency. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
10. "Soyuz Launch Vehicle". Starsem. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
11. "Carrier rocket SoyuzFG with RB Frigate". federalspace.ru. Archived
from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
12. "Arianespace and Starsem to orbit COROT" (PDF). Starsem. Retrieved
29 March 2013.
13. "Soyuz: Overview". Arianespace. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
14. "Soyuz from the Guiana Space Centre: User's Manual" (PDF).
Arianespace. June 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
Further reading
International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems, Third Edition, Iaskowitz, Hopkins, and Hopkins
ed., 1999, Reston, Virginia, AIAA Publications. ISBN 1563473534
External links
Starsem (http://www.starsem.com)
Soyuz launch log at Starsem (http://www.starsem.com/soyuz/log.htm)
Soyuz U/Fregat (http://www.orbireport.com/Launchers/Soyuz_UFregat/)
Soyuz launch vehicle: The most reliable means of space travel (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Delta_Mis
sion/SEM8XK57ESD_0.html)
Soyuz Booster Family (http://home.comcast.net/~rusaerog/boosters/R7.html)
Soyuz User's Manual Arianespace (http://www.arianespace.com/launchservicessoyuz/SoyuzUser%27
sManual.asp)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Soyuz_(rocket_family)&oldid=723659488"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 7/8
15/07/2016 Soyuz (rocket family) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page was last modified on 4 June 2016, at 10:52.
Text is available under the Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike License; additional terms may
apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered
trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family) 8/8