Thursday, November 20, 2008

Soyuz

IOC: 1966
Total Production: 1,680

Soyuz-Fregat

IOC: 2000
Production: 6

Also Known As
R-7

Origin
Russia

Contractor/s
Starsem

Family Members
Molniya-M
Soyuz-2
Soyuz-Ikar
Soyuz-U

Description: The Soyuz Launch Vehicle evolved from Soviet R-7 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) becoming a reliable and affordable space access asset for the Soviet Union and lately for Russia and international customers. Since 1966 a wide range of Soyuz models have performed more than 1,680 missions.

The Soyuz launched the first satellite and the first human into space. Currently, these vehicles are used to launch commercial and military satellites into space and for transportation of personnel and materiel to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Soyuz propulsion system consists of three stages or four stages including the upper stage. The first stage comprises four liquid oxygen and kerosene RD-107A boosters assembled around the central core. The first stage burns for 118 seconds. The second stage is located at the central core of the launch vehicle and comprises one RD-108A rocket motor that burns for 290 seconds. The third stage uses one RD-0110 motor and burns for 240 seconds.

The Soyuz-Fregat launch system includes the Fregat upper stage with more propellant charge and a restart capability as many as 20 times. It can perform a full range of missions ranging from put into orbit missions to Earth escape missions in support of outer space exploration spacecrafts (Mars Express).

The Soyuz-Fregat launch vehicle can deliver payloads of 11,022 lb (5,000 kg) to LEO (450 km altitude), or 8,818 lb (4,000 kg) to a Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO 1,400 km altitude).

Specifications
Accommodation: Unmanned

Dimensions: Diameter 2.7 m, Length 49 m

Weights: Max Weight 290 t, Payload 4,000 kg (8,818 lb)

Engine/s Performance: Thrust 910,000 lb (412,776 kg)

Operators

Russia

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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