Soyuz-2-1a
Soyuz-2-1b
Soyuz operations in 2020
| The Soyuz rocket family The oldest space launcher family in the world, Soyuz and its direct predessors are responsible for numerous space firsts, including thefirst satellite, thefirst man in space, first soft landing on the Moon and many others.
The Soyuz rocket family as of 2002.
In May 2024, the head of RKTs Progress Dmitry Baranov said that the company had produced 12 versions of R-7-based launch vehicles since the start of their production in Samara (then Kuibyshev) in 1959.Space launch vehicles derived from theR-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 forLuna 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 |
The Soyuz, the most recognizable Russian rocket, is only one of several space boosters, which derived from theR-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 | | Soyuz | Soyuz-2-1v |
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 Soyuz rocket history in 2024 This page is maintained by Anatoly Zak Last update: October 4, 2024 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
An R-7-based rocket lifts off with anearly 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
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 originalescape system.Click to enlarge. Credit:152
The 11A511 version of the Soyuz rocket with the upgradedescape 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 
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 |
