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2020

Soyuz operations in 2020


R-7 ICBM

Sputnik launcher

Molniya launcher

Vostok launcher

 

The Soyuz rocket family

The oldest space launcher family in the world, Soyuz and its direct predessors are responsible for numerous space firsts, including the first satellite, the first man in space, first soft landing on the Moon and many others.

family

The Soyuz rocket family as of 2002.


 

Different versions of space launch vehicles derived from the R-7 ICBM:


Type
Presumed manufacturer index
US designation
Sheldon designation
Developer
First launch
Payloads
Sputnik
8K71PS
SL-1
-
OKB-1
1957 Oct. 4
Sputnik-1
Luna/Vostok
8K72
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Third stage with 8D714 engine for Luna probes, Vostok
Vostok
8K72K
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Vostok
Vostok-2
8K72V
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
-
Vostok-2M
8K72V1
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Elektron, Meteor
Vostok-2M
8K72V3
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Elektron, Meteor
Vostok-2M
8K72D
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Elektron, Meteor
Vostok-2M
8K72-2D
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Elektron, Meteor
Luna
8K73/73E
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Vehicle with the 8D711 oxygen-dimethylhydrazin engine for OD-1, OD-2 and E-3 projects
Sputnik
8A91
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Object D (Sputnik-3)
Vostok
8A92
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Zenit-2
Vostok-M
8A92M
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
1964 Aug. 28
Tselina D, Meteor, IRS-1A, Intercosmos-Bulgaria
Vostok
8A92ME
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Meteor, Tselina-D
Vostok
8A92V3
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Zenit-2
Vostok
8A93
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
OD-2
Vostok
11A92
SL-3
A-1
OKB-1
-
Zenit-2
-
8K74LK
-
-
OKB-1
-
LK test article (774)
Molniya
8K78
SL-6
A-2-e
OKB-1
-
Molniya, Mars/Venera, Prognoz, Zond
Molniya
8K78-MV
SL-6
A-2-e
OKB-1
-
Mars/Venera, Prognoz, Zond
Molniya
8K78-2MV
SL-6
A-2-e
OKB-1
-
Mars/Venera, Prognoz, Zond
Molniya
8K78-E6
SL-6
A-2-e
OKB-1
-
Luna (E-6)
Molniya-M
8K78M
SL-6
A-2-e
TsSKB
-
Mars/Venera, Prognoz, Zond 1-3, IRS-1C, Oko
Polyot
11K59 (11A59?)
SL-5
-
OKB-1
-
IS (Polyot-1,2)
Voskhod
11A57
SL-4
A-2
OKB-1
1963 Nov. 16
Voskhod, Zenit
Voskhod
11A59
SL-4
A-2
OKB-1
-
Zenit-2
Voskhod
11A510
SL-4
A-2
OKB-1
-
Zenit-4/ US-prototypes
Soyuz
11A511
SL-4
A-2
TsSKB
-
Soyuz, Soyuz 7K-OK

Soyuz-M

11A511M
SL-4
A-2
TsSKB
1966 Nov. 28
Soyuz-7K-VI, Zenit-4MT, Yantar
Soyuz-U
11A511U
SL-4
A-2
TsSKB
1973 May 18
Soyuz TM, Soyuz TMA, Kobalt-M; Progress. (Planned to be in operation until 2017)
Soyuz-U2
11A511U2
SL-4
A-2
TsSKB
1982 Dec. 23
Progress-M
Soyuz-U2
11A511K
SL-4
A-2
TsSKB
-
Resurs, Soyuz-TM
Soyuz-Irene
-
SL-4
A-2
Arianespace
-
Globalstar (project)
Soyuz-Ikar
11A511U
SL-4
A-2
Starsem
1999 Feb. 9
Globalstar
Soyuz-Fregat
-
SL-4
A-2
Starsem
2000
Cluster, IRDT
Vostok-2 (Vostok-A/Soyuz-2LK)/Fregat
11K55
SL-4
A-2
NPO Lavochkin
-
A proposal circa 1993-1996. Revived in 2016
Soyuz-FG
11A511FG
-
-
TsSKB Progress
2001 May 21
Progress M1, AMOS-2
Soyuz-2-1a (Rus)
14A14 (131KS)
-
-
TsSKB Progress
Meridian, Metop
Soyuz-2-1b (Rus)
14A15 (131KS)
-
-
TsSKB Progress
Corot, TGK PG
Soyuz-ST-A
372RN21
-
-
TsSKB Progress/Starsem
-
Galileo
Soyuz-ST-B
372RN21
-
-
TsSKB Progress/Starsem
-
-
Soyuz-2 for Vostochny
372RN16
-
-
RKTs Progress
-
Lomonosov
Yamal
-
-
-
RKK Energia
-
ISS modules, Progress-M2
Avrora
-
-
-
RKK Energia
-
Commercial satellites from Christmas Island
Onega
-
-
-
RKK Energia
-
Kliper
Soyuz-2-3
-
-
-
RKK Energia/TsSKB Progress
-
Kliper ("light" version); Parom and its cargo containers
Soyuz-3
-
-
-
RKK Energia
-
Kliper
Soyuz-1 (Soyuz-2-1v)
14A15
-
-
TsSKB Progress
Military/commercial satellites, Kanopus-ST
Soyuz-2-3v
-
-
-
TsSKB Progress
-
A 2011 proposal for a 16-ton payload vehicle with a cryogenic upper stage
Soyuz-2-1d
-
-
-
TsSKB Progress
-
A proposal
Soyuz-4 (?)
-
-
-
TsSKB Progress
-
A proposal (?)
Soyuz-5
-
-
-
TsSKB Progress
-
A proposal circa 2013
Soyuz-2M
-
-
-
RKTs Progress
-
A proposal circa 2019 of a commercial three-stage vehicle without Fregat

 

Soyuz rocket

The Soyuz, the most recognizable Russian rocket, is only one of several space boosters, which derived from the R-7 ballistic missile developed in the mid-1950s.


Overview of upper stages in the Soyuz family of rockets:

Designation
Fregat Taimyr (385GK) Yastreb BV Ikar (50KS) BV Volga
Mass
6.6 tons
9.84 tons
12.7-18.7 tons
-
-
Height
1.5 meters
4 meters
-
-
-
Diameter
3.35 meters
3.41 meters
-
-
-
Launch vehicle
Yamal, Avrora
Angara, Onega
Soyuz
Soyuz-2-1v

 

coordinate

Coordinate system for the Soyuz family of rockets. Credit: Starsem


History of Soyuz rocket operations in the 21st century:

Soyuz rocket history in 2001

Soyuz rocket history in 2002

Soyuz rocket history in 2003

Soyuz rocket history in 2004

Soyuz rocket history in 2005

Soyuz rocket history in 2006

Soyuz rocket history in 2007

Soyuz rocket history in 2008

Soyuz rocket history in 2009

Soyuz rocket history in 2010

Soyuz rocket history in 2011

Soyuz rocket history in 2012

Soyuz rocket history in 2013

Soyuz rocket history in 2014

Soyuz rocket history in 2015

Soyuz rocket history in 2016

Soyuz rocket history in 2017

Soyuz rocket history in 2018

Soyuz rocket history in 2019

Soyuz rocket history in 2020

Soyuz rocket history in 2021

Soyuz rocket history in 2022

Soyuz rocket history in 2023

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This page is maintained by Anatoly Zak

Last update: March 26, 2023

All rights reserved

 

The rollout of the Soyuz rocket. Copyright: © 2001 Anatoly Zak

The Soyuz rocket blasts off from Launch Complex 5. Copyright: © 2001 Anatoly Zak


luna

An R-7-based rocket lifts off with an early lunar probe circa 1959. Credit: Roskosmos


The launch vehicle with the Voskhod spacecraft on the launch pad in Area 1 in 1964. Credit: RKK Energia


soyuz

A still from unidentified footage showing a liftoff of a rocket in the Soyuz family from Tyuratam. Credit: Roskosmos


The 11A511 version of the Soyuz rocket with the original escape system. Click to enlarge. Credit: 152


The 11A511 version of the Soyuz rocket with the upgraded escape system. Credit: 152


On a foggy morning in October 2000, the Soyuz booster was being prepared for the launch of the first resident crew of the International Space Station, more than 43 years after the original version of the rocket flew. Click to enlarge Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak


The Soyuz-Fregat version of the Soyuz launch vehicle is being prepared in Baikonur. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak

Four strap-on boosters and a central core stage of the R-7 rocket. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

The assembly of the second and third stages of the Soyuz launcher. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

soyuz

A third stage of the Soyuz rocket. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

A close up view of the core-stage engine on the Soyuz rocket. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

The RD-0109 engine, which powered the 3rd stage of the Vostok rocket. Copyright © 2002 Anatoly Zak