Soyuz-2

Soyuz 2 (2.1a / 2.1b)
A MetOp spacecraft ready for the launch atop a Soyuz 2.1a rocket.
FunctionMedium-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerProgress
Country of originRussia
Cost per launchUS$35−48.5 million (Roscosmos)[1][2]
US$80 million (Arianespace)[3]
Size
Height46.3 m (152 ft)[4]
Diameter10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
Mass312,000 kg (688,000 lb)
Stages3 or 4
Capacity
Payload to LEO[a]
MassA: 7,020 kg (15,480 lb)
B: 8,200 kg (18,100 lb)[4]
Payload to SSO[b]
MassA: 4,230 kg (9,330 lb)
B: 4,900 kg (10,800 lb)[5]
Payload to GTO[c]
MassA: 2,810 kg (6,190 lb)
B: 3,250 kg (7,170 lb)[5]
Payload to TLI[d]
MassB: 2,350 kg (5,180 lb)[6]
Payload to GSO[e]
MassB: 1,360 kg (3,000 lb)[6]
Associated rockets
FamilyR-7 (Soyuz)
Based onSoyuz-FG
Derivative workSoyuz 2 (CSG)
Soyuz 2.1v
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sites
Total launches
  • 169 (+1 suborbital)
  •     A: 78 (+1 suborbital)
  •     B:: 91
Success(es)
  • 163 (+1 suborbital)
  •     A: 75 (+1 suborbital)
  •     B: 88
Failure(s)4 (A: 2, B: 2)
Partial failure(s)2 (A: 1, B: 1)
First flight
  • A: 8 November 2004
  • B: 27 December 2006
Last flight
  • A: Active
  • B: Active
Type of passengers/cargo
Boosters (First stage)
No. boosters4
Height19.6 m (64 ft)
Diameter2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
Empty mass3,784 kg (8,342 lb)
Gross mass44,413 kg (97,914 lb)
Propellant mass39,160 kg (86,330 lb)
Powered by1 × RD-107A
Maximum thrustSL: 839.48 kN (188,720 lbf)
vac: 1,019.93 kN (229,290 lbf)
Specific impulseSL: 263.3 s (2.582 km/s)
vac: 320.2 s (3.140 km/s)
Burn time118 seconds
PropellantLOX / RP-1
Second stage (core)
Height27.10 m (88.9 ft)
Diameter2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
Empty mass6,545 kg (14,429 lb)
Gross mass99,765 kg (219,944 lb)
Propellant mass90,100 kg (198,600 lb)
Powered by1 × RD-108A
Maximum thrustSL: 792.41 kN (178,140 lbf)
vac: 921.86 kN (207,240 lbf)
Specific impulseSL: 257.7 s (2.527 km/s)
vac: 320.6 s (3.144 km/s)
Burn time286 seconds
PropellantLOX / RP-1
Third stage
Height6.70 m (22.0 ft)
Diameter2.66 m (8 ft 9 in)
Empty mass2,355 kg (5,192 lb)
Gross mass27,755 kg (61,189 lb)
Propellant mass25,400 kg (56,000 lb)
Powered byA: 1 × RD-0110
B: 1 × RD-0124
Maximum thrustA: 298 kN (67,000 lbf)
B: 294.3 kN (66,200 lbf)
Specific impulseA: 326 s (3.20 km/s)
B: 359 s (3.52 km/s)
Burn time270 seconds
PropellantLOX / RP-1
Fourth stage (optional) – Fregat / Fregat-M / Fregat-MT[7]
Height1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
DiameterFregat / Fregat-M: 3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Fregat-MT: 3.80 m (12.5 ft)
Empty massFregat: 930 kg (2,050 lb)
Fregat-M: 980 kg (2,160 lb)
Fregat-MT: 1,050 kg (2,310 lb)
Propellant massFregat: 5,250 kg (11,570 lb)
Fregat-M: 5,600 kg (12,300 lb)
Fregat-MT: 7,100 kg (15,700 lb)
Powered by1 × S5.92
Maximum thrust19.85 kN (4,460 lbf)
Specific impulse333.2 s (3.268 km/s)
Burn timeUp to 1,100 seconds (up to 20 starts)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Fourth stage (optional) – Volga[8]
Height1.025 m (3 ft 4.4 in)
Diameter3.2 m (10 ft)
Empty mass840 kg (1,850 lb)
Propellant mass300–900 kg (660–1,980 lb)
Powered by1 × 17D64[9]
Maximum thrust2.94 kN (660 lbf)
Specific impulse307 s (3.01 km/s)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH

Soyuz 2 (Russian: Союз 2, lit.'Union 2') (GRAU index 14A14) is a modernized expendable medium-lift launch vehicle and the seventh major version of the Soyuz rocket family. It includes key enhancements over its predecessors including improved engines along with digital flight control and telemetry systems, enabling launches from fixed platforms and the use of large payload fairings.

In its standard configuration, Soyuz 2 is a three-stage launch vehicle designed for low Earth orbit missions. Notably, its stage numbering differs from some rockets. The boosters are considered to be its first stage, while the central core is the second one. For higher orbits like Molniya or geosynchronous, an optional upper (fourth) stage can be added. The most common upper stage is the Fregat, but the smaller Volga is also an option. These upper stages have their own independent flight control and telemetry systems.

The Soyuz 2 rocket utilizes the existing facilities of its R-7 derived predecessors, Site 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome (Russian: Байконур) in Kazakhstan and Site 43 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Russian: Плесецк) in northwestern Russia. Additional launch locations opened at the Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana in 2011 and the Site 1S at the Vostochny Cosmodrome (Russian: Восточный) in eastern Russia in 2016. However, Soyuz 2 launches from Guiana were suspended in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[10]

The Soyuz 2 family has two major variants, with the Soyuz 2.1a being the base version that first launched on 8 November 2004. The Soyuz 2.1b, with a 15 percent more powerful third stage, followed on 27 December 2006. Soyuz rockets that use the larger ST payload fairing are called the Soyuz ST-A or Soyuz ST-B. The derivative Soyuz 2.1v with a more powerful core stage and no boosters was introduced in December 2013.

The Soyuz 2 has replaced the Molniya-M, Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG rockets since 2010, 2017 and 2019 respectively.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ "Russian launch service provider reveals cost of Soyuz-2.1 rocket launch". Russian Aviation. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  2. ^ "The Soyuz-2 rocket series". Russian Space Web. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. ^ Office, U. S. Government Accountability. "Surplus Missile Motors: Sale Price Drives Potential Effects on DOD and Commercial Launch Providers". www.gao.gov. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference progress-soyuz2perf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference progress-soyuzstperf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b "The Soyuz-2 rocket series". Russianspaceweb.
  7. ^ Конструкция разгонного блока "Фрегат" (in Russian). NPO Lavochkin. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Volga upper stage". russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Soyuz 2-1 launches maiden mission from Vostochny | NASASpaceFlight.com". nasaspaceflight.com. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  10. ^ Berger, Eric (26 February 2022). "Russia pulls out of European spaceport, abandoning a planned launch". Ars Technica. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  11. ^ Zak, Anatoly (30 September 2010). "Last launch of the Molniya-M on 30 September 2010". RussianSpaceWeb.com.
  12. ^ Zak, Anatoly (1 June 2011). "Soyuz-2 to replace its predecessors". RussianSpaceWeb.com.
  13. ^ "Alexander Kirilin: "We are working on three rocket"". Volzkhskaya Kommuna. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.


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