Soyuz spacecraft
Encyclopedia
Soyuz Union) is a series of spacecraft
initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau
in the 1960s, and still in service today. The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft
and was originally built as part of the Soviet Manned Lunar programme
.
The Soyuz spacecraft is launched by the Soyuz rocket, the most frequently used and most reliable Russian launch vehicle to date. The Soyuz rocket design is based on the Vostok launcher, which in turn was based on the 8K74 or R-7A Semyorka
, a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile
. Soyuz spacecraft are launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in Kazakhstan.
The first unmanned Soyuz mission was launched November 28, 1966; the first Soyuz mission with a crew (Soyuz 1
) was launched April 23, 1967, but the cosmonaut
on board, Vladimir Komarov, died during the flight's crash-landing. Soyuz 2
was an unmanned mission, and Soyuz 3
, launched on October 26, 1968, was the first successful Soyuz manned mission. The only other fatal mission, Soyuz 11
, killed the crew of three also during re-entry due to premature cabin depressurization. Despite these early fatalities, Soyuz is presently widely considered the world's safest, most cost-effective human spaceflight system as demonstrated by its unparalleled length of operational history.
Soyuz spacecraft were used to carry astronaut
s to and from Salyut
and later Mir
Soviet space stations, and are now used for transport to and from the International Space Station
(ISS). At least one Soyuz spacecraft is docked to ISS at all times for use as an escape craft in the event of an emergency.
The Soyuz spacecraft is intended to be replaced by the six-person Prospective Piloted Transport System
.
A Soyuz spacecraft consists of three parts (from front to back):
The orbital and service modules are single-use and are destroyed upon re-entry in the atmosphere. The orbital and reentry portions are habitable living space. By moving as much equipment as possible into the orbital module, which does not have to be shielded or decelerated during atmospheric
re-entry, the Soyuz is both larger and lighter than the contemporary Apollo spacecraft
's command module
. The Apollo command module had more than six cubic meters (6.2 m³) of living space and a mass of 5000 kg; the three-part Soyuz (command, orbital and service modules) provides the same crew (since the Soyuz T in 1980) with more than seven cubic meters of living space (5 m³ in OM, plus 2.5 m³ in RM), an airlock, and a service module for the mass of the Apollo capsule alone (mass of empty Soyuz was 5600 kg). On the other hand Apollo was operating with three astronauts in spacesuits and was able to land with five astronauts in spacesuits in 1973 (prepared rescue mission for second Skylab crew), Soyuz was for two cosmonauts in spacesuits in the 1960s and 1970s, and for three since 1980 (Soyuz T). On nine Apollo missions (9 through 17) the astronauts also had access to the Lunar Module
, which added 6.7 cubic metres of volume but also another 2200 kg of mass (if counting just the empty ascent stage as being somewhat equivalent to the Soyuz orbital module, although including empty fuel tanks, engine and RCS system — 14700 kg when including the descent stage and fuel).
Soyuz can carry up to three crew members and provide life support for about 30 person days. The life support system provides a nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere at sea level partial pressures. The atmosphere is regenerated through KO2
cylinders, which absorb most of the CO2
and water
produced by the crew and regenerates the oxygen, and LiOH cylinders which absorb leftover CO2.
The vehicle is protected during launch by a nose fairing
, which is jettisoned after passing through the atmosphere. It has an automatic docking system. The ship can be operated automatically, or by a pilot independently of ground control.
The forepart of the spacecraft is the orbital module (Russian: бытовой отсек (БО); Bytovoi otsek (BO)) also known as Habitation section. It houses all the equipment that will not be needed for reentry, such as experiments, cameras or cargo. The module also contains a toilet, docking avionics and communications gear. Internal volume is 6 m³, living space 5 m³. On the latest Soyuz versions (since Soyuz TM), a small window was introduced, providing the crew with a forward view.
A hatch between it and the descent module can be closed so as to isolate it to act as an airlock if needed, crew members exiting through its side port (near the descent module). On the launch pad, the crew enter the spacecraft through this port.
This separation also lets the orbital module be customized to the mission with less risk to the life-critical descent module. The convention of orientation in zero gravity differs from that of the descent module, as crew members stand or sit with their heads to the docking port.
Separation of the Orbital Module is critical for a safe landing. Without separation of OM it is not possible for crew to survive landing - that´s why the orbital module was separated before the ignition of return engine. After the issue with landing of Soyuz TM-5
in September 1988 this procedure was changed and the OM is separated after the return maneuver, which is more dangerous. Also the rescue of the crew whilst on the launch pad or with SAS system is complicated because of the orbital module.
The reentry module (Russian: спускаемый аппарат (СА); Spuskaemyi apparat (SA)) is used for launch and the journey back to Earth. Half of the reentry module is covered by a heat-resistant covering to protect it during re-entry
; this half faces the Earth during re-entry. It is slowed initially by the atmosphere, then by a braking parachute, followed by the main parachute which slows the craft for landing. At one meter above the ground, solid-fuel braking engines mounted behind the heat shield
are fired to give a soft landing. One of the design requirements for the reentry module was for it to have the highest possible volumetric efficiency (internal volume divided by hull area). The best shape for this is a sphere, but such a shape can provide no lift, which results in a purely ballistic reentry
. Ballistic reentries are hard on the occupants due to high deceleration and cannot be steered beyond their initial deorbit burn. That is why it was decided to go with the "headlight" shape that the Soyuz uses—a hemispherical forward area joined by a barely angled conical section (seven degrees) to a classic spherical section heat shield. This shape allows a small amount of lift to be generated due to the unequal weight distribution. The nickname was thought up at a time when nearly every headlight was circular. Small dimensions of the reentry module led to it having only two-man crews after the death of the Soyuz 11
crew. The later Soyuz T spacecraft solved this issue. Internal volume of Soyuz SA is 4 m³; 2.5 m³ is usable for crew (living space).
At the back of the vehicle is the service module (Russian: приборно-агрегатный отсек (ПАО); Priborno-Agregatnyi Otsek (PAO)). It has a pressurized container shaped like a bulging can (Instrumentation compartment, PO (Priborniy Otsek) that contains systems for temperature control, electric power supply, long-range radio
communications, radio telemetry, and instruments for orientation and control. A non-pressurized part of the service module (Propulsion compartment, AO (Agregatniy Otsek)) contains the main engine and a liquid-fuelled propulsion system
for maneuvering in orbit and initiating the descent back to Earth. The ship also has a system of low-thrust engines for orientation, attached to the Intermediate compartment (PkhO or Perekhodnoi Otsek). Outside the service module are the sensors for the orientation system and the solar array, which is oriented towards the sun by rotating the ship. Failure of separation of Service and Reentry Module led to emergency situations during missions Soyuz 5, Soyuz TMA-10 and TMA-11, which led to entering the atmosphere in wrong orientation - crew entry hatch first and service modul still connected with reentry capsule. Failures of pyro-bolts (explosive bolts) did not cut the connection strats of Soyuz TMA-10 and -11. Soyuz Reentry module was and still is protected from all directions with thermal insulation, which saved the crew. Fortunately the connection strats melted and the modules separated before the crew entry hatch was damaged or destroyed. Reentry module then landed in emergency ballistic mode with 8-9g with only minor injuries to crew. Failures of TMA-10 and -11 led to further investigation and also to special EVA of Kononenko and Volkov. On the 10th of July 2008 they cut through the thermal insolation and remove pyro-bolt from their own Soyuz TMA-12 for examination on Earth.
Early Soyuz spacecraft would then have the service and orbital modules detach simultaneously. As they are connected by tubing and electrical cables to the descent module, this would aid in their separation and avoid having the descent module alter its orientation. Later Soyuz spacecraft detach the orbital module before firing the main engine, which saves more propellant for maneuvering. Since the Soyuz TM-5 landing issue the orbital module is again detached after the re-enter firing, which led to (but not caused) emergency situations of Soyuz TMA-10 and TMA-11. The orbital module cannot remain in orbit as an addition to a space station, because the airlock hatch is part of the descent module.
Re-entry firing is done on the "dawn" side of the earth, so that the spacecraft can be seen by recovery helicopters as it descends in the evening twilight, illuminated by the sun when it is above the shadow of the Earth. The Soyuz craft is designed to come down on land, usually somewhere in the deserts of Kazakhstan in central Asia. This is in contrast to early US manned missions which "splashed down" in the ocean.
The Soyuz spacecraft has been the subject of continuous evolution since the early 1960s. Thus several different actual versions, proposals and projects exist.
Korolyov initially promoted the Soyuz A-B-V circumlunar complex (7K-9K-11K) concept (also known as L1) in which a two-man craft Soyuz 7K would rendezvous with other components (9K and 11K) in Earth orbit to assemble a lunar excursion vehicle, the components being delivered by the proven R-7 rocket.
through Soyuz 11
(1967–1971) were first-generation vehicles, carrying a crew of up to three without spacesuits and distinguished from those following by their bent solar panel
s and their use of the Igla
automatic docking navigation system, which required special radar antennas. This first generation encompassed the original Soyuz 7K-OK
and the Soyuz 7K-OKS
for docking with the Salyut 1
space station. The probe and drogue docking system permitted internal transfer of cosmonauts from the Soyuz to the station.
The Soyuz 7K-L1
was designed to launch a crew from the Earth to circle the moon, and was the primary hope for a Soviet circumlunar flight. It had several test flights in the Zond program
from 1967–1970 (Zond 4
to Zond 8), which produced multiple failures in the 7K-L1's re-entry systems. The remaining 7K-L1s were scrapped. The Soyuz 7K-L3
was designed and developed in parallel to the Soyuz 7K-L1, but was also scrapped.
The next manned version of the Soyuz was the Soyuz 7K-OKS. It was designed for space station
flights and had a docking port that allowed internal transfer between spacecraft. The Soyuz 7K-OKS had two manned flights, both in 1971. Soyuz 11
, the second flight, depressurized upon re-entry, killing its three-man crew.
, comprised Soyuz 12
through Soyuz 40
(1973–1981).
It was developed out of the military Soyuz
concepts studied in previous years and was capable of carrying 2 cosmonauts with Sokol space suit
s (after the Soyuz 11
accident). Several models were planned, but none actually flew in space. These versions were named Soyuz 7K-P, Soyuz 7K-PPK, Soyuz R, Soyuz 7K-VI, and Soyuz OIS (Orbital Research Station).
The Soyuz 7K-T/A9 version was used for the flights to the military Almaz
space station.
Soyuz 7K-TM
was the spacecraft used in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
in 1975, which saw the first and only docking of a Soyuz spacecraft with an Apollo spacecraft
.
It was also flown in 1976 for the earth-science mission, Soyuz 22
.
Soyuz 7K-TM served as a technological bridge to the third generation.
The third generation Soyuz-T
(T: транспортный, Transportnyi meaning transport) spacecraft (1976–1986) featured solar panels allowing longer missions, a revised Igla rendezvous system and new translation/attitude thruster system on the Service module. It could carry a crew of three, now wearing spacesuits.
The Soyuz-TM crew transports (M: модифицированный, Modifitsirovannyi meaning modified) were fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft, and were used from 1986 to 2003 for ferry flights to Mir
and the International Space Station
.
Soyuz TMA (A: антропометрический, Antropometricheskii meaning anthropometric
) features several changes to accommodate requirements requested by NASA in order to service the International Space Station
, including more latitude in the height and weight of the crew and improved parachute systems. It is also the first expendable vehicle to feature "glass cockpit
" technology. Soyuz-TMA looks identical to a Soyuz-TM spacecraft on the outside, but interior differences allow it to accommodate taller occupants with new adjustable crew couches.
and Parom
spacecraft by early 2011. Since then, Kliper appears to have been indefinitely postponed due to lack of government funding. It has since been announced that the Soyuz will receive an upgrade to make it suitable for up to one year in space, as well as new digital interior displays and updated docking equipment. This new version, known as Soyuz TMA-M, debuted on 7 October 2010 with the launch of TMA-01M
, carrying the ISS Expedition 25
crew.
Soyuz ACTS (Advanced Crew Transportation System), also known as Soyuz-K, is a proposed version of the Soyuz design capable of achieving lunar orbit. The upgrades could include a new habitation module developed by the European Space Agency
. A novel, rocket-based precision landing system may also be implemented. Missions could be launched from Baikonur
or Guiana Space Centre.
were derived from Soyuz and are used for servicing space stations.
While not being direct derivatives of Soyuz, the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft
and the Indian Orbital Vehicle
follow the same general layout as that pioneered by Soyuz.
.
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
in the 1960s, and still in service today. The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft
Voskhod spacecraft
The Voskhod was a spacecraft built by the Soviet Union's space program for human spaceflight as part of the Voskhod programme. It was a development of and a follow-on to the Vostok spacecraft...
and was originally built as part of the Soviet Manned Lunar programme
Soviet Moonshot
The Soviet manned lunar programs were a series of programs pursued by the Soviet Union to land a man on the Moon in competition with the United States Apollo program to achieve the same goal set publicly by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961...
.
The Soyuz spacecraft is launched by the Soyuz rocket, the most frequently used and most reliable Russian launch vehicle to date. The Soyuz rocket design is based on the Vostok launcher, which in turn was based on the 8K74 or R-7A Semyorka
R-7A Semyorka
The R-7A Semyorka, GRAU index 8K74, was an early Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile derived from the earlier R-7 Semyorka. It was the only member of the R-7 family of rockets to be deployed as an operational missile. The R-7A first flew on 23 December 1959, entered service on 31 December of...
, a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
. Soyuz spacecraft are launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
in Kazakhstan.
The first unmanned Soyuz mission was launched November 28, 1966; the first Soyuz mission with a crew (Soyuz 1
Soyuz 1
Soyuz 1 was a manned spaceflight of the Soviet space program. Launched into orbit on April 23, 1967 carrying cosmonaut Colonel Vladimir Komarov, Soyuz 1 was the first flight of the Soyuz spacecraft...
) was launched April 23, 1967, but the cosmonaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
on board, Vladimir Komarov, died during the flight's crash-landing. Soyuz 2
Soyuz 2
Soyuz 2 was an unpiloted spacecraft in the Soyuz family intended to perform a docking maneuver with Soyuz 3. Although the two craft approached closely, the docking did not take place.-Other uses of name:...
was an unmanned mission, and Soyuz 3
Soyuz 3
Soyuz 3 was a spaceflight mission launched by the Soviet Union on October 26, 1968. For four consecutive days, Commander Georgy Beregovoy piloted the Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft through eighty-one orbits of Earth.-Crew:-Backup crew:...
, launched on October 26, 1968, was the first successful Soyuz manned mission. The only other fatal mission, Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11 was the first manned mission to arrive at the world's first space station, Salyut 1. The mission arrived at the space station on June 7, 1971 and departed on June 30, 1971. The mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurized during preparations for re-entry, killing the...
, killed the crew of three also during re-entry due to premature cabin depressurization. Despite these early fatalities, Soyuz is presently widely considered the world's safest, most cost-effective human spaceflight system as demonstrated by its unparalleled length of operational history.
Soyuz spacecraft were used to carry astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s to and from Salyut
Salyut
The Salyut program was the first space station program undertaken by the Soviet Union, which consisted of a series of nine space stations launched over a period of eleven years from 1971 to 1982...
and later Mir
Mir
Mir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
Soviet space stations, and are now used for transport to and from 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). At least one Soyuz spacecraft is docked to ISS at all times for use as an escape craft in the event of an emergency.
The Soyuz spacecraft is intended to be replaced by the six-person Prospective Piloted Transport System
Prospective Piloted Transport System
PPTS , unofficially called Rus, is a project being undertaken by the Russian Federal Space Agency to develop a new-generation manned spacecraft...
.
Design
- A spheroidSpheroidA spheroid, or ellipsoid of revolution is a quadric surface obtained by rotating an ellipse about one of its principal axes; in other words, an ellipsoid with two equal semi-diameters....
orbital moduleOrbital moduleThe orbital module is a portion of spacecraft used only in orbit. These have developed from the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft.-Soyuz orbit module:The orbit module is a spherical part of Soviet-Russian Soyuz space ship series...
, which provides accommodation for the crew during their mission; - A small aerodynamic reentry moduleReentry capsuleA reentry capsule is the portion of a spacecraft which returns to Earth following a space flight. The shape is determined partly by aerodynamics; a capsule is aerodynamically stable falling blunt end first, which allows only the blunt end to require a heat shield for atmospheric reentry. Its shape...
, which returns the crew to Earth; - A cylindrical service moduleService moduleA service module is a spacecraft compartment containing a variety of support systems used for spacecraft operations. Usually located in the uninhabited area of the spacecraft, the service module is jettisoned upon the completion of the mission, and usually burns up during atmospheric reentry...
with solar panels attached, which contains the instruments and engines.
The orbital and service modules are single-use and are destroyed upon re-entry in the atmosphere. The orbital and reentry portions are habitable living space. By moving as much equipment as possible into the orbital module, which does not have to be shielded or decelerated during atmospheric
Earth's atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention , and reducing temperature extremes between day and night...
re-entry, the Soyuz is both larger and lighter than the contemporary 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...
's command module
Apollo Command/Service Module
The Command/Service Module was one of two spacecraft, along with the Lunar Module, used for the United States Apollo program which landed astronauts on the Moon. It was built for NASA by North American Aviation...
. The Apollo command module had more than six cubic meters (6.2 m³) of living space and a mass of 5000 kg; the three-part Soyuz (command, orbital and service modules) provides the same crew (since the Soyuz T in 1980) with more than seven cubic meters of living space (5 m³ in OM, plus 2.5 m³ in RM), an airlock, and a service module for the mass of the Apollo capsule alone (mass of empty Soyuz was 5600 kg). On the other hand Apollo was operating with three astronauts in spacesuits and was able to land with five astronauts in spacesuits in 1973 (prepared rescue mission for second Skylab crew), Soyuz was for two cosmonauts in spacesuits in the 1960s and 1970s, and for three since 1980 (Soyuz T). On nine Apollo missions (9 through 17) the astronauts also had access to the Lunar Module
Apollo Lunar Module
The Apollo Lunar Module was the lander portion of the Apollo spacecraft built for the US Apollo program by Grumman to carry a crew of two from lunar orbit to the surface and back...
, which added 6.7 cubic metres of volume but also another 2200 kg of mass (if counting just the empty ascent stage as being somewhat equivalent to the Soyuz orbital module, although including empty fuel tanks, engine and RCS system — 14700 kg when including the descent stage and fuel).
Soyuz can carry up to three crew members and provide life support for about 30 person days. The life support system provides a nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere at sea level partial pressures. The atmosphere is regenerated through KO2
Potassium superoxide
Potassium superoxide is the chemical compound with the formula KO2. This rare salt of the superoxide ion is produced by burning molten potassium in pure oxygen...
cylinders, which absorb most of the CO2
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
and water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
produced by the crew and regenerates the oxygen, and LiOH cylinders which absorb leftover CO2.
The vehicle is protected during launch by a nose fairing
Payload fairing
Payload fairing is one of the main components of a launch vehicle. The fairing protects the payload during the ascent against the impact of the atmosphere . More recently, an additional function is to maintain the cleanroom environment for precision instruments.Outside the atmosphere the fairing is...
, which is jettisoned after passing through the atmosphere. It has an automatic docking system. The ship can be operated automatically, or by a pilot independently of ground control.
Orbital Module
A hatch between it and the descent module can be closed so as to isolate it to act as an airlock if needed, crew members exiting through its side port (near the descent module). On the launch pad, the crew enter the spacecraft through this port.
This separation also lets the orbital module be customized to the mission with less risk to the life-critical descent module. The convention of orientation in zero gravity differs from that of the descent module, as crew members stand or sit with their heads to the docking port.
Separation of the Orbital Module is critical for a safe landing. Without separation of OM it is not possible for crew to survive landing - that´s why the orbital module was separated before the ignition of return engine. After the issue with landing of Soyuz TM-5
Soyuz TM-5
-Launch:Soyuz TM-5 launched on 1988 June 7 and arrived at Mir on June 9 carrying the second Bulgarian in space, Alexandrov . He became the first Bulgarian to reach a Soviet space station...
in September 1988 this procedure was changed and the OM is separated after the return maneuver, which is more dangerous. Also the rescue of the crew whilst on the launch pad or with SAS system is complicated because of the orbital module.
Reentry Module
Re-Entry
"Re-Entry" was the second album released by UK R&B / Hip Hop collective Big Brovaz. After the album was delayed in May 2006, the band finally release the follow-up to "Nu Flow" on 9 April 2007...
; this half faces the Earth during re-entry. It is slowed initially by the atmosphere, then by a braking parachute, followed by the main parachute which slows the craft for landing. At one meter above the ground, solid-fuel braking engines mounted behind the heat shield
Heat shield
A heat shield is designed to shield a substance from absorbing excessive heat from an outside source by either dissipating, reflecting or simply absorbing the heat...
are fired to give a soft landing. One of the design requirements for the reentry module was for it to have the highest possible volumetric efficiency (internal volume divided by hull area). The best shape for this is a sphere, but such a shape can provide no lift, which results in a purely ballistic reentry
Ballistic reentry
A ballistic reentry is a type of atmospheric reentry of an artificial vehicle that relies solely on drag within the atmosphere to slow the vehicle....
. Ballistic reentries are hard on the occupants due to high deceleration and cannot be steered beyond their initial deorbit burn. That is why it was decided to go with the "headlight" shape that the Soyuz uses—a hemispherical forward area joined by a barely angled conical section (seven degrees) to a classic spherical section heat shield. This shape allows a small amount of lift to be generated due to the unequal weight distribution. The nickname was thought up at a time when nearly every headlight was circular. Small dimensions of the reentry module led to it having only two-man crews after the death of the Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11 was the first manned mission to arrive at the world's first space station, Salyut 1. The mission arrived at the space station on June 7, 1971 and departed on June 30, 1971. The mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurized during preparations for re-entry, killing the...
crew. The later Soyuz T spacecraft solved this issue. Internal volume of Soyuz SA is 4 m³; 2.5 m³ is usable for crew (living space).
Service Module
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
communications, radio telemetry, and instruments for orientation and control. A non-pressurized part of the service module (Propulsion compartment, AO (Agregatniy Otsek)) contains the main engine and a liquid-fuelled propulsion system
Spacecraft propulsion
Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. There are many different methods. Each method has drawbacks and advantages, and spacecraft propulsion is an active area of research. However, most spacecraft today are propelled by forcing a gas from the...
for maneuvering in orbit and initiating the descent back to Earth. The ship also has a system of low-thrust engines for orientation, attached to the Intermediate compartment (PkhO or Perekhodnoi Otsek). Outside the service module are the sensors for the orientation system and the solar array, which is oriented towards the sun by rotating the ship. Failure of separation of Service and Reentry Module led to emergency situations during missions Soyuz 5, Soyuz TMA-10 and TMA-11, which led to entering the atmosphere in wrong orientation - crew entry hatch first and service modul still connected with reentry capsule. Failures of pyro-bolts (explosive bolts) did not cut the connection strats of Soyuz TMA-10 and -11. Soyuz Reentry module was and still is protected from all directions with thermal insulation, which saved the crew. Fortunately the connection strats melted and the modules separated before the crew entry hatch was damaged or destroyed. Reentry module then landed in emergency ballistic mode with 8-9g with only minor injuries to crew. Failures of TMA-10 and -11 led to further investigation and also to special EVA of Kononenko and Volkov. On the 10th of July 2008 they cut through the thermal insolation and remove pyro-bolt from their own Soyuz TMA-12 for examination on Earth.
Re-entry procedure
Because its modular construction differs from that of previous designs, the Soyuz has an unusual sequence of events prior to re-entry. The spacecraft is turned engine-forward and the main engine is fired for de-orbiting fully 180° ahead of its planned landing site. This requires the least propellant for re-entry, the spacecraft traveling on an elliptical Hohmann orbit to a point where it will be low enough in the atmosphere to re-enter.Early Soyuz spacecraft would then have the service and orbital modules detach simultaneously. As they are connected by tubing and electrical cables to the descent module, this would aid in their separation and avoid having the descent module alter its orientation. Later Soyuz spacecraft detach the orbital module before firing the main engine, which saves more propellant for maneuvering. Since the Soyuz TM-5 landing issue the orbital module is again detached after the re-enter firing, which led to (but not caused) emergency situations of Soyuz TMA-10 and TMA-11. The orbital module cannot remain in orbit as an addition to a space station, because the airlock hatch is part of the descent module.
Re-entry firing is done on the "dawn" side of the earth, so that the spacecraft can be seen by recovery helicopters as it descends in the evening twilight, illuminated by the sun when it is above the shadow of the Earth. The Soyuz craft is designed to come down on land, usually somewhere in the deserts of Kazakhstan in central Asia. This is in contrast to early US manned missions which "splashed down" in the ocean.
Spacecraft systems
- Thermal Control System—Sistema Obespecheniya Teplovogo Rezhima, SOTR
- Life Support System—Kompleks Sredstv Obespecheniya Zhiznideyatelnosti, KSOZh
- Power Supply System—Sistema Elektropitaniya, SEP
- Communication and Tracking Systems—Rassvet (Dawn) radio communications system, Onboard Measurement System (SBI), Kvant-V spacecraft control, Klyost-M television system, Orbit Radio Tracking (RKO)
- Onboard Complex Control System—Sistema Upravleniya Bortovym Kompleksom, SUBK
- Combined Propulsion System—Kompleksnaya Dvigatelnaya Ustanovka, KDU
- Chaika-3 Motion Control System (SUD)
- Optical/Visual Devices (OVP)—VSK-4 (Vizir Spetsialniy Kosmicheskiy-4),Night Vision Device (VNUK-K, Visir Nochnogo Upravleniya po Kursu), Docking light, Pilot's Sight (VP-1, Vizir Pilota-1), Laser Range Finder (LPR-1, Lazerniy Dalnomer-1)
- Kurs rendezvous systemKurs (docking system)Kurs is a radio telemetry system used by the Soviet and later Russian space program.Kurs was developed by the Research Institute of Precision Instruments before 1985 and manufactured by the Kiev Radio Factory .- History :...
- Docking System—Sistema Stykovki i Vnutrennego Perekhoda, SSVP
- Teleoperator Control Mode—Teleoperatorniy Rezhim Upravleniya, TORU
- Entry Actuators System—Sistema Ispolnitelnikh Organov Spuska, SIO-S
- Landing Aids Kit—Kompleks Sredstv Prizemleniya, KSP
- Portable Survival Kit—Nosimiy Avariyniy Zapas, NAZ, containing a TP-82TP-82The TP-82 pistol is a triple-barreled Soviet firearm that was carried by cosmonauts on space missions.It is intended as a survival aid to be used after landings and before recovery in the Siberian wilderness. The upper two smoothbore barrels use 12.5×70 mm ammunition, or approximately 40...
or other pistolPistolWhen distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol... - Soyuz Launch Escape SystemLaunch escape systemA Launch Escape System is a top-mounted rocket connected to the crew module of a crewed spacecraft and used to quickly separate the crew module from the rest of the rocket in case of emergency. Since the escape rockets are above the crew module, an LES typically uses separate nozzles which are...
—Sistema Avariynogo Spaseniya, SAS
Variants
Technical data
| Version: | Soyuz A Soyuz A Sergei Korolev initially promoted the Soyuz A-B-V circumlunar complex concept in which a two-man craft Soyuz 7K would rendezvous with other components in Earth orbit to assemble a lunar excursion vehicle, the components being delivered by the proven R-7 rocket... (1963) |
Soyuz 7K-OK Soyuz 7K-OK The manned Soyuz spacecraft can be classified into design generations. Soyuz 1 through Soyuz 11 were first-generation vehicles, carrying a crew of up to three without spacesuits and distinguished from those following by their bent solar panels and their use of the Igla automatic docking navigation... (1967–1971) |
Soyuz 7K-L3 Soyuz 7K-L3 The Soyuz 7K-LOK, or simply LOK was a Soviet spacecraft designed to launch men from Earth to circle the moon and developed in parallel to the 7K-L1. The LOK would carry two cosmonauts into orbit around the Moon, acting as "mother" spacecraft for the LK Lander, which would land one member of the... (LOK) |
Soyuz 7K-T Soyuz 7K-T The second generation of the Soyuz spacecraft, the Soyuz Ferry or Soyuz 7K-T, comprised Soyuz 12 through Soyuz 40 . Although still using the Igla system, these had no solar panels, employing batteries... (1973–1981) |
Soyuz 7K-TM Soyuz 7K-TM Apollo-Soyuz Test Project 1975 version of the Soyuz spacecraft served as a technological bridge to the third generation Soyuz-T spacecraft .... (1975) |
Soyuz-T Soyuz-T The Soyuz-T spacecraft was the third generation Soyuz spacecraft, in service for seven years from 1979 to 1986. The T stood for transport... (1976–1986) |
Soyuz-TM Soyuz-TM The Soyuz-TM crew transports were fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft used for ferry flights to the Mir and ISS space stations... (1986–2002) |
Soyuz-TMA Soyuz-TMA The Soyuz-TMA is a recent revision of the Soyuz spacecraft, superseded in 2010 by the Soyuz TMA-M..It is used by the Russian Federal Space Agency for human spaceflight... (2003–.... ) |
Soyuz TMA-M (2010–.... ) |
| Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mass (kg) | 5 880 | 6 560 | 9 850 | 6 800 | 6 680 | 6 850 | 7 250 | 7 220 | 7 150 |
| Length (m) | 7.40 | 7.95 | 10.06 | 7.48 | 7.48 | 7.48 | 7.48 | 7.48 | 7.48 |
| Max Diameter (m) | 2 .50 | 2 .72 | 2 .930 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 |
| Span (m) | ? | 9 .80 | ? | 9 .80/– | 8 .37 | 10 .6 | 10 .6 | 10 .7 | 10 .7 |
| Orbital Module (BO) | |||||||||
| Mass (kg) | 1 000 | 1 100 | - | 1 350 | 1 224 | 1 100 | 1 450 | 1 370 | |
| Length (m) | 3 .00 | 3 .45 | 2 .26 | 2 .98 | 3 .10 | 2 .98 | 2 .98 | 2 .98 | |
| Diameter (m) | 2 .20 | 2 .25 | 2 .3 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | |
| Volume (m³) | 2 .20 | 5 .00 | - | 5 .00 | 5 .00 | 5 .00 | 5 .00 | 5 .00 | |
| Reentry module (SA) | |||||||||
| Mass (kg) | 2 480 | 2 810 | 2 804 | 2 850 | 2 802 | 3 000 | 2 850 | 2 950 | |
| Length (m) | 2 .30 | 2 .24 | 2 .19 | 2 .24 | 2 .24 | 2 .24 | 2 .24 | 2 .24 | |
| Diameter (m) | 2 .17 | 2 .17 | 2 .2 | 2 .17 | 2 .17 | 2 .17 | 2 .17 | 2 .17 | |
| Volume (m³) | 4 .00 | 4 .00 | - | 3 .50 | 4 .00 | 4 .00 | 3 .50 | 3 .50 | |
| Service module (PAO) | |||||||||
| Mass (kg) | 2 400 | 2 650 | - | 2 700 | 2 654 | 2 750 | 2 950 | 2 900 | |
| Usable mass (kg) | 830 | 500 | 3152 | 500 | 500 | 700 | 880 | 880 | |
| Length (m) | 2 .10 | 2 .26 | 2 .82 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | 2 .26 | |
| Diameter (m) | 2 .50 | 2 .72 | 2 .2 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | 2 .72 | |
Soyuz 7K (part of the 7K-9K-11K circumlunar complex) (1963)
Korolyov initially promoted the Soyuz A-B-V circumlunar complex (7K-9K-11K) concept (also known as L1) in which a two-man craft Soyuz 7K would rendezvous with other components (9K and 11K) in Earth orbit to assemble a lunar excursion vehicle, the components being delivered by the proven R-7 rocket.
First generation
The manned Soyuz spacecraft can be classified into design generations. Soyuz 1Soyuz 1
Soyuz 1 was a manned spaceflight of the Soviet space program. Launched into orbit on April 23, 1967 carrying cosmonaut Colonel Vladimir Komarov, Soyuz 1 was the first flight of the Soyuz spacecraft...
through Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11 was the first manned mission to arrive at the world's first space station, Salyut 1. The mission arrived at the space station on June 7, 1971 and departed on June 30, 1971. The mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurized during preparations for re-entry, killing the...
(1967–1971) were first-generation vehicles, carrying a crew of up to three without spacesuits and distinguished from those following by their bent solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s and their use of the Igla
Igla (spacecraft docking system)
The IGLA docking system was a Russian radio telemetry system for automated docking of Soyuz . The first prototypes were made in late 1965. On 30 October 1967, the first automated docking of Soyuz unmanned spacecraft took place.-Problems:...
automatic docking navigation system, which required special radar antennas. This first generation encompassed the original Soyuz 7K-OK
Soyuz 7K-OK
The manned Soyuz spacecraft can be classified into design generations. Soyuz 1 through Soyuz 11 were first-generation vehicles, carrying a crew of up to three without spacesuits and distinguished from those following by their bent solar panels and their use of the Igla automatic docking navigation...
and the Soyuz 7K-OKS
Soyuz 7K-OKS
Soyuz 7K-OKS version of the Soyuz spacecraft was designed for space station flights and had a docking port that allowed internal transfer between spacecraft. It flew only twice manned in 1971...
for docking with the Salyut 1
Salyut 1
Salyut 1 was the first space station of any kind, launched by the USSR on April 19, 1971. It was launched unmanned using a Proton-K rocket. Its first crew came later in Soyuz 10, but was unable to dock completely; its second crew launched in Soyuz 11 and remained on board for 23 days...
space station. The probe and drogue docking system permitted internal transfer of cosmonauts from the Soyuz to the station.
The Soyuz 7K-L1
Soyuz 7K-L1
The Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft was designed to launch men from the Earth to circle the Moon without going into lunar orbit in the context of the Soviet manned moon-flyby program in Moon race. It was based on the Soyuz 7K-OK with several components stripped out to reduce the vehicle weight...
was designed to launch a crew from the Earth to circle the moon, and was the primary hope for a Soviet circumlunar flight. It had several test flights in the Zond program
Zond program
Zond was the name given to two distinct series of Soviet unmanned space program undertaken from 1964 to 1970. The first series based on 3MV planetary probe was intended to gather information about nearby planets...
from 1967–1970 (Zond 4
Zond 4
Zond 4, a formal component of the Soviet Zond program and unmanned version of Soyuz 7K-L1 manned Moon-flyby spacecraft, was one of the first Soviet experiments towards manned circumlunar spaceflight. It was launched to test the spaceworthiness of the new capsule and to gather data about flights in...
to Zond 8), which produced multiple failures in the 7K-L1's re-entry systems. The remaining 7K-L1s were scrapped. The Soyuz 7K-L3
Soyuz 7K-L3
The Soyuz 7K-LOK, or simply LOK was a Soviet spacecraft designed to launch men from Earth to circle the moon and developed in parallel to the 7K-L1. The LOK would carry two cosmonauts into orbit around the Moon, acting as "mother" spacecraft for the LK Lander, which would land one member of the...
was designed and developed in parallel to the Soyuz 7K-L1, but was also scrapped.
The next manned version of the Soyuz was the Soyuz 7K-OKS. It was designed for space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
flights and had a docking port that allowed internal transfer between spacecraft. The Soyuz 7K-OKS had two manned flights, both in 1971. Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11 was the first manned mission to arrive at the world's first space station, Salyut 1. The mission arrived at the space station on June 7, 1971 and departed on June 30, 1971. The mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurized during preparations for re-entry, killing the...
, the second flight, depressurized upon re-entry, killing its three-man crew.
Second generation
The second generation, called Soyuz Ferry or Soyuz 7K-TSoyuz 7K-T
The second generation of the Soyuz spacecraft, the Soyuz Ferry or Soyuz 7K-T, comprised Soyuz 12 through Soyuz 40 . Although still using the Igla system, these had no solar panels, employing batteries...
, comprised Soyuz 12
Soyuz 12
Soyuz 12 was a 1973 manned test flight by the Soviet Union of the newly-redesigned Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft that was intended to provide greater crew safety in the wake of the Soyuz 11 tragedy. The flight marked the return of the Soviets to manned space operations after the 1971 accident...
through Soyuz 40
Soyuz 40
-Backup crew:-Mission parameters:*Mass: 6800 kg*Perigee: 198.1 km*Apogee: 287 km*Inclination: 51.6°*Period: 89.06 minutes-Mission highlights:...
(1973–1981).
It was developed out of the military Soyuz
Military Soyuz
Several military Soyuz spacecraft models were planned, but none actually flew in space. These versions were named Soyuz 7K-P, Soyuz 7K-PPK, Soyuz R, Soyuz 7K-VI, and Soyuz OIS .-Soyuz 7K-P:...
concepts studied in previous years and was capable of carrying 2 cosmonauts with Sokol space suit
Sokol space suit
The Sokol space suit is a type of Russian space suit, worn by all who fly on the Soyuz spacecraft. It was introduced in 1973 and is still used . The Sokol is described by its makers as a rescue suit, and it is not capable of being used outside the spacecraft in a spacewalk or extra-vehicular...
s (after the Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11 was the first manned mission to arrive at the world's first space station, Salyut 1. The mission arrived at the space station on June 7, 1971 and departed on June 30, 1971. The mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurized during preparations for re-entry, killing the...
accident). Several models were planned, but none actually flew in space. These versions were named Soyuz 7K-P, Soyuz 7K-PPK, Soyuz R, Soyuz 7K-VI, and Soyuz OIS (Orbital Research Station).
The Soyuz 7K-T/A9 version was used for the flights to the military Almaz
Almaz
The Almaz program was a series of military space stations launched by the Soviet Union under cover of the civilian Salyut DOS-17K program after 1971....
space station.
Soyuz 7K-TM
Soyuz 7K-TM
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project 1975 version of the Soyuz spacecraft served as a technological bridge to the third generation Soyuz-T spacecraft ....
was the spacecraft used in 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:...
in 1975, which saw the first and only docking of a Soyuz spacecraft with an 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...
.
It was also flown in 1976 for the earth-science mission, Soyuz 22
Soyuz 22
Soyuz 22 was 1976 Soviet manned spaceflight. It was an earth-sciences mission using a modified Soyuz spacecraft, and was also, some observers speculated, a mission to observe NATO exercises near Norway....
.
Soyuz 7K-TM served as a technological bridge to the third generation.
Third generation
Soyuz-T
The Soyuz-T spacecraft was the third generation Soyuz spacecraft, in service for seven years from 1979 to 1986. The T stood for transport...
(T: транспортный, Transportnyi meaning transport) spacecraft (1976–1986) featured solar panels allowing longer missions, a revised Igla rendezvous system and new translation/attitude thruster system on the Service module. It could carry a crew of three, now wearing spacesuits.
Soyuz-TM (1986-2003)
The Soyuz-TM crew transports (M: модифицированный, Modifitsirovannyi meaning modified) were fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft, and were used from 1986 to 2003 for ferry flights to Mir
Mir
Mir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
and 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...
.
Soyuz-TMA (2003–.... )
Soyuz TMA (A: антропометрический, Antropometricheskii meaning anthropometric
Anthropometry
Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the human individual...
) features several changes to accommodate requirements requested by NASA in order to service 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...
, including more latitude in the height and weight of the crew and improved parachute systems. It is also the first expendable vehicle to feature "glass cockpit
Glass cockpit
A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features electronic instrument displays, typically large LCD screens, as opposed to the traditional style of analog dials and gauges...
" technology. Soyuz-TMA looks identical to a Soyuz-TM spacecraft on the outside, but interior differences allow it to accommodate taller occupants with new adjustable crew couches.
Soyuz TMA-M (2010/....)
In 2004, Russian space officials announced that they intended to replace Soyuz with the new KliperKliper
Kliper is a partly reusable manned spacecraft, proposed by RSC Energia.Designed primarily to replace the Soyuz spacecraft, Kliper has been proposed in two versions: as a pure lifting body design and as spaceplane with small wings...
and Parom
Parom
The Parom is a space tug that has been proposed by RKK Energia. The purpose of this vehicle is to replace most of the Progress' active components. Progress spacecraft have flown re-supply missions since 1978. Nikolai Bryukhanov, RKK Energia's deputy general designer, said in May 2005 that the...
spacecraft by early 2011. Since then, Kliper appears to have been indefinitely postponed due to lack of government funding. It has since been announced that the Soyuz will receive an upgrade to make it suitable for up to one year in space, as well as new digital interior displays and updated docking equipment. This new version, known as Soyuz TMA-M, debuted on 7 October 2010 with the launch of TMA-01M
Soyuz TMA-01M
- Backup crew :- Spacecraft :Soyuz TMA-01M is the first spacecraft of the new modernized Soyuz TMA-M series, developed and built by RKK Energia as an upgrade of the baseline Soyuz-TMA, which has been in use since 2002. 36 obsolete pieces of equipment have been replaced with 19 new-generation...
, carrying the ISS Expedition 25
Expedition 25
Expedition 25 was the twenty-fifth long-duration mission to the International Space Station . Expedition 25 began with the Soyuz TMA-18 undocking on 25 September 2010...
crew.
Soyuz ACTS (2012/....)
Soyuz ACTS (Advanced Crew Transportation System), also known as Soyuz-K, is a proposed version of the Soyuz design capable of achieving lunar orbit. The upgrades could include a new habitation module developed by the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
. A novel, rocket-based precision landing system may also be implemented. Missions could be launched from Baikonur
Baikonur
Baikonur , formerly known as Leninsk, is a city in Kyzylorda Province of Kazakhstan, rented and administered by the Russian Federation. It was constructed to service the Baikonur Cosmodrome and was officially renamed Baikonur by Russian president Boris Yeltsin on December 20, 1995.The shape of the...
or Guiana Space Centre.
Related craft
The unmanned Progress spacecraftProgress spacecraft
The Progress is a Russian expendable freighter spacecraft. The spacecraft is an unmanned resupply spacecraft during its flight but upon docking with a space station, it allows astronauts inside, hence it is classified manned by the manufacturer. It was derived from the Soyuz spacecraft, and is...
were derived from Soyuz and are used for servicing space stations.
While not being direct derivatives of Soyuz, the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft
Shenzhou spacecraft
Shenzhou is a spacecraft developed and operated by the People's Republic of China to support its manned spaceflight program. The name is variously translated as "Divine Craft," "Divine Vessel of God," "Magic Boat" or similar and is also homophonous with an ancient name for China...
and the Indian Orbital Vehicle
ISRO Orbital Vehicle
The Indian manned spacecraft temporarily named Orbital Vehicle is intended to be the basis of the indigenous Indian human spaceflight program. The capsule will be designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capability.In its maiden...
follow the same general layout as that pioneered by Soyuz.
Operators
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: 1966-1991
- Russian Federation: 1992 to present
See also
- Progress spacecraftProgress spacecraftThe Progress is a Russian expendable freighter spacecraft. The spacecraft is an unmanned resupply spacecraft during its flight but upon docking with a space station, it allows astronauts inside, hence it is classified manned by the manufacturer. It was derived from the Soyuz spacecraft, and is...
- Chinese Shenzhou spacecraftShenzhou spacecraftShenzhou is a spacecraft developed and operated by the People's Republic of China to support its manned spaceflight program. The name is variously translated as "Divine Craft," "Divine Vessel of God," "Magic Boat" or similar and is also homophonous with an ancient name for China...
- ISRO Orbital VehicleISRO Orbital VehicleThe Indian manned spacecraft temporarily named Orbital Vehicle is intended to be the basis of the indigenous Indian human spaceflight program. The capsule will be designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capability.In its maiden...
- Orbital Technologies Commercial Space StationOrbital Technologies Commercial Space StationThe Orbital Technologies Commercial Space Station is an orbital space station intended for commercial clients. The station was proposed in 2010 by Orbital Technologies, a Russian aerospace firm, who is collaborating to develop the station with Rocket and Space Corporation Energia .As proposed, the...
- SpacecraftSpacecraftA spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
- Sokol space suitSokol space suitThe Sokol space suit is a type of Russian space suit, worn by all who fly on the Soyuz spacecraft. It was introduced in 1973 and is still used . The Sokol is described by its makers as a rescue suit, and it is not capable of being used outside the spacecraft in a spacewalk or extra-vehicular...
- Space explorationSpace explorationSpace exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
- Human spaceflightHuman spaceflightHuman 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....
- Crew Space Transportation SystemCSTSCSTS or ACTS is a human spaceflight system proposal. It was originally a joint project between the European Space Agency and the Russian Space Agency , but is now solely an ESA project...
study to develop a European-Russian successor to Soyuz - Zarya spacecraftZarya spacecraftThe Zarya spacecraft was a secret Soviet project of the late 1980s aiming to design and build a large, manned, vertical takeoff, vertical landing space capsule,a much larger replacement for the Soyuz spacecraft....
project
Missions
See List of Soviet manned space missions and List of Russian manned space missions as well as the Zond programZond program
Zond was the name given to two distinct series of Soviet unmanned space program undertaken from 1964 to 1970. The first series based on 3MV planetary probe was intended to gather information about nearby planets...
.
External links
- Russia New Russian spaceship will be able to fly to Moon - space corp
- RSC Energia: Concept Of Russian Manned Space Navigation Development
- Mir Hardware Heritage
- David S. F. Portree, Mir Hardware Heritage, NASA RP-1357, 1995
- Mir Hardware Heritage (wikisource)
- Information on Soyuz spacecraft
- OMWorld's ASTP Docking Trainer Page
- NASA - Russian Soyuz TMA Spacecraft Details
- Space Adventures circum-lunar mission - details