Soyuz-U
Encyclopedia
The Soyuz-U launch vehicle
(LV) is an improved version of the original Soyuz
LV. Soyuz-U is part of the R-7 family of rockets based on the R-7 Semyorka
missile. Members of this rocket family were designed by the TsSKB design bureau and constructed at the Progress Factory in Samara, Russia
. (These two are now a united company, TsSKB-Progress). The first Soyuz-U flight took place on 18 May 1973, carrying as its payload Kosmos 559
, a Zenit military surveillance satellite.
The Soyuz-U vehicle replaced earlier Soyuz launch vehicle variants and the Voskhod rocket, all of which were closely related vehicles derived from the Soviet R-7 ICBM
. The Soyuz-U is a unified, single vehicle capable of launching manned and unmanned payloads.
Soyuz-U is still in use today, making several launches a year.
Soyuz-U/Ikar uses Ikar as its 3rd stage, produced by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center, TsSKB-Progress. Ikar is used to deliver various payloads with masses of 750 kg to 3920 kg to heights 250 km to 1400 km. Ikar's performance is lower than that of Fregat
, but it is more precise in maneuvering and it can operate autonomously longer.
Soyuz-U/Fregat uses Fregat
as its 3rd stage, developed and produced by Lavochkin Association
in Khimki
.
An older variant of Soyuz-U, the Soyuz-U2
launcher, had the same hardware as the basic Soyuz-U. Instead of normal kerosene it used a high energy, synthetic kerosene, Syntin
, as the first stage fuel. This variant last flew in 1996, after production of Syntin ended.
Soyuz-U was the basic platform for the development of the Soyuz-FG
launch vehicle
, which uses an all-new first stage.
In the future both Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG will be replaced by the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle.
mission took place 2 December 1974, when the Soyuz 16
crew was launched in preparation for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
(ASTP). Soyuz 19, which as part of the ASTP docked with the last Apollo spacecraft
ever flown, was also launched by a Soyuz-U rocket.
On 6 July 1976 a Soyuz-U launched Soyuz 21
, which took a crew of two to the Salyut 5
space station. Many subsequent space station crews were launched on Soyuz-U launchers. The final human spaceflight mission to utilize the Soyuz-U was Soyuz TM-34
, a Soyuz ferry flight to the International Space Station
.
mostly with Progress-M robotic cargo spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station
(ISS).
The most recent Soyuz-U mission failed to launch Progress M-12M
to the ISS on 24 August 2011.
Its most recent non-Progress launch was on 16 April 2010, when a Soyuz-U was used to carry the Kosmos 2462 spacecraft to orbit. As of August 2011, a total of 745 Soyuz-U launch vehicles were launched, with 21 launch failures and 724 successes (2.8% failure rate).
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
(LV) is an improved version of the original Soyuz
Soyuz (rocket)
The Soyuz was a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed by OKB-1 and manufactured by State Aviation Plant No. 1 in Samara, Russia. It was used to launch Soyuz spacecraft as part of the Soyuz programme, initially on unmanned test flights, followed by the first 19 manned launches of the...
LV. Soyuz-U is part of the R-7 family of rockets based on the R-7 Semyorka
R-7 Semyorka
The R-7 was a Soviet missile developed during the Cold War, and the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile. The R-7 made 28 launches between 1957 and 1961, but was never deployed operationally. A derivative, the R-7A, was deployed from 1960 to 1968...
missile. Members of this rocket family were designed by the TsSKB design bureau and constructed at the Progress Factory in Samara, Russia
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
. (These two are now a united company, TsSKB-Progress). The first Soyuz-U flight took place on 18 May 1973, carrying as its payload Kosmos 559
Cosmos (satellite)
Kosmos is a designation given to a large number of satellites operated by the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia. Kosmos 1, the first spacecraft to be given a Kosmos designation, was launched on March 16, 1962....
, a Zenit military surveillance satellite.
The Soyuz-U vehicle replaced earlier Soyuz launch vehicle variants and the Voskhod rocket, all of which were closely related vehicles derived from the Soviet R-7 ICBM
R-7 Semyorka
The R-7 was a Soviet missile developed during the Cold War, and the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile. The R-7 made 28 launches between 1957 and 1961, but was never deployed operationally. A derivative, the R-7A, was deployed from 1960 to 1968...
. The Soyuz-U is a unified, single vehicle capable of launching manned and unmanned payloads.
Soyuz-U is still in use today, making several launches a year.
Versions
There are two versions of Soyuz-U in current use, Soyuz-U/Ikar and Soyuz-U/Fregat.Soyuz-U/Ikar uses Ikar as its 3rd stage, produced by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center, TsSKB-Progress. Ikar is used to deliver various payloads with masses of 750 kg to 3920 kg to heights 250 km to 1400 km. Ikar's performance is lower than that of Fregat
Fregat
Fregat is a type of rocket stage developed by NPO Lavochkin in the 1990s. Its main engine is a liquid propellant rocket that uses UDMH and N2O4 as propellants.- Specifications :...
, but it is more precise in maneuvering and it can operate autonomously longer.
Soyuz-U/Fregat uses Fregat
Fregat
Fregat is a type of rocket stage developed by NPO Lavochkin in the 1990s. Its main engine is a liquid propellant rocket that uses UDMH and N2O4 as propellants.- Specifications :...
as its 3rd stage, developed and produced by Lavochkin Association
Lavochkin
NPO Lavochkin is a Russian aerospace company. It is a major player in the Russian space program, being the developer and manufacturer of the Fregat upper stage, as well as interplanetary probes such as Phobos Grunt...
in Khimki
Khimki
Khimki is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated just northwest of Moscow, at the west bank of the Moscow Canal. Population: 207,125 ; 141,000 ; 106,000 ; 23,000 .-History:...
.
An older variant of Soyuz-U, the Soyuz-U2
Soyuz-U2
The Soyuz-U2 was a Soviet, later Russian, carrier rocket. It was derived from the Soyuz-U, and a member of the R-7 family of rockets...
launcher, had the same hardware as the basic Soyuz-U. Instead of normal kerosene it used a high energy, synthetic kerosene, Syntin
Syntin
Syntin is a hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C10H16 used as a rocket fuel. It is a mixture of cis and trans isomers. It has a density of 0.851 g/mL, and a boiling point of 158 °C...
, as the first stage fuel. This variant last flew in 1996, after production of Syntin ended.
Soyuz-U was the basic platform for the development of the Soyuz-FG
Soyuz-FG
The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle is an improved version of the Soyuz-U, from the R-7 family of rockets, designed and constructed by TsSKB-Progress in Samara...
launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
, which uses an all-new first stage.
In the future both Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG will be replaced by the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle.
Launches of human spaceflight missions
The first use of a Soyuz-U to launch a human spaceflightHuman spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
mission took place 2 December 1974, when the Soyuz 16
Soyuz 16
Soyuz 16 was a 1974 manned test flight for a joint Soviet-US space flight which culminated in the Apollo-Soyuz mission in July, 1975. The two-man Soviet crew tested a docking ring and other systems to be used in the joint flight.-Crew:-Backup crew:...
crew was launched in preparation for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
-Backup crew:-Crew notes:Jack Swigert had originally been assigned as the command module pilot for the ASTP prime crew, but prior to the official announcement he was removed as punishment for his involvement in the Apollo 15 postage stamp scandal.-Soyuz crew:...
(ASTP). Soyuz 19, which as part of the ASTP docked with the last Apollo spacecraft
Apollo spacecraft
The Apollo spacecraft was composed of five combined parts designed to accomplish the American Apollo program's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by the end of the 1960s and returning them safely to Earth...
ever flown, was also launched by a Soyuz-U rocket.
On 6 July 1976 a Soyuz-U launched Soyuz 21
Soyuz 21
Soyuz 21 was a 1976 Soviet manned mission to the Salyut 5 space station, the first of three flights to the station. The mission's objectives were mainly military in scope, but included other scientific work. The mission ended abruptly with cosmonauts Boris Volynov and Vitaly Zholobov returning to...
, which took a crew of two to the Salyut 5
Salyut 5
Salyut 5 , also known as OPS-3, was a Soviet space station. Launched in 1976 as part of the Salyut programme, it was the third and last Almaz space station to be launched for the Soviet military. Two Soyuz missions visited the station, each manned by two cosmonauts...
space station. Many subsequent space station crews were launched on Soyuz-U launchers. The final human spaceflight mission to utilize the Soyuz-U was Soyuz TM-34
Soyuz TM-34
Soyuz TM-34 was the fourth Soyuz mission to the International Space Station . Soyuz TM-34 was launched by a Soyuz-U launch vehicle.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:*Docked to ISS: April 27, 2002, 07:55 UTC...
, a Soyuz ferry flight to the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
.
Recent missions
Lately Soyuz-U vehicles have been used by the Russian Federal Space AgencyRussian Federal Space Agency
The Russian Federal Space Agency , commonly called Roscosmos and abbreviated as FKA and RKA , is the government agency responsible for the Russian space science program and general aerospace research. It was previously the Russian Aviation and Space Agency .Headquarters of Roscosmos are located...
mostly with Progress-M robotic cargo spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS).
The most recent Soyuz-U mission failed to launch Progress M-12M
Progress M-12M
Progress M-12M , identified by NASA as Progress 44 or 44P, was an unmanned Progress spacecraft that was lost in a launch failure in August 2011, at the start of a mission to resupply the International Space Station. It was the twelfth modernised Progress-M spacecraft to be launched...
to the ISS on 24 August 2011.
Its most recent non-Progress launch was on 16 April 2010, when a Soyuz-U was used to carry the Kosmos 2462 spacecraft to orbit. As of August 2011, a total of 745 Soyuz-U launch vehicles were launched, with 21 launch failures and 724 successes (2.8% failure rate).
External links
- (PDF) Soyuz Launch Vehicle Users Manual
- Astronautix.com entry on Soyuz-U / 11A511U
- Astronautix.com entry on Soyuz-U2 / 11A511U2
- Russian Federal Space Agency about Soyuz-U
- Russian Federal Space Agency about Soyuz-U/Ikar
- Russian Federal Space Agency about Soyuz-U/Fregat
- Russian Federal Space Agency about Soyuz-U2
- LV's manufacturer TsSKB-Progress about Soyuz-U (in Russian)