Soyuz-2 (rocket)

Soyuz 2 (Soyuz 2.1a/2.1b/ST/STK)

A MetOp spacecraft ready for the launch atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket.
Function	Orbital carrier rocket
Manufacturer	TsSKB-Progress
Country of origin	Russia
Size
Height	46.1 m (151.2 ft)
Diameter	2.95 m (9.67 ft)
Mass	305,000 kg (672,000 lb)
Stages	2 or 3
Capacity
Payload to LEO	7,800 kilograms (17,196 lb)
Payload to 800 km SSO (with Fregat)	4,500 kilograms (9,921 lb)
Payload to GTO (from ELS)	3,250 kilograms (7,165 lb)
Associated rockets
Family	R-7 (Soyuz)
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	LC-31/6, Baikonur LC-43, Plesetsk ELS, Centre Spatial Guyanais
Total launches	44 (2.1a: 20, 2.1b: 24)
Successes	41 (2.1a: 19, 2.1b: 22)
Failures	2 (2.1a: 1, 2.1b: 1)
Partial failures	1 (2.1b)
First flight	2.1a: 8 November 2004 2.1b: 27 December 2006
Notable payloads	COROT
Boosters
No. boosters	4
Engines	1 RD-117
Thrust	1,021.097 kN
Specific impulse	310 sec
Burn time	120 seconds
Fuel	LOX/RP-1
First stage
Engines	1 RD-118
Thrust	999.601 kN (224,719 LBf)
Specific impulse	311 sec
Burn time	286 seconds
Fuel	LOX/RP-1
Second stage
Engines	1 RD-0124
Thrust	294 kN (66,093 LBf)
Specific impulse	359 sec
Burn time	300 seconds
Fuel	LOX/RP-1
Third stage (Optional) - Fregat
Engines	1 S5.92
Thrust	19.6 kN (4,406 LBf)
Specific impulse	327 sec
Burn time	877 seconds
Fuel	N2O4/UDMH

Soyuz-2, GRAU index 14A14, is the collective designation for the new version of the Russian Soyuz rocket. In its basic form, it is a three-stage carrier rocket for placing payloads into low Earth orbit. The first-stage boosters and two core stages feature uprated engines with improved injection systems, compared to the previous versions of the Soyuz. Digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to be launched from a fixed launch platform, whereas the launch platforms for earlier Soyuz rockets had to be rotated as the rocket could not perform a roll to change its heading in flight.

Soyuz-2 is often flown with an upper stage, which allows it to lift payloads into higher orbits, such as Molniya and geosynchronous orbits. The upper stage is equipped with independent flight control and telemetry systems from those used in the rest of the rocket. The NPO Lavochkin manufactured Fregat is the most commonly used upper stage.

Soyuz-2 rockets are currently launched from LC-31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and LC-43 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, launch facilities shared with earlier R-7 derived rockets including the Soyuz-U and Molniya. Commercial Soyuz-2 flights are contracted by Starsem, and have launched from LC-31 at Baikonur and ELS (l'Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz), which has been built at the Guiana Space Centre on the northern coast of South America. The Soyuz-2 is expected to be able to deliver 2.8-3.5 tonnes to GTO from this site.

The Soyuz-2 has replaced the Molniya-M^[1] and is starting to replace the Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG rockets which are currently in service alongside it, as they are expected to be phased out from 2014 onwards.^[2][3]

Variants

Soyuz-2 family includes 2.1a, 2.1b and 2.1v. The first two variants are modifications to the Soyuz-U launcher. The latter is a "light" version without side boosters.

When launched from ELS site, the Soyuz-2 will always be mated with ST-type fairing. This version will be called Soyuz-ST or Soyuz-STK, where additional "K" indicates special measures taken for preparing and launching the rocket in hot and humid conditions.

Soyuz 2.1a

The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle. This stage continues to use the RD-0110 engine.

The 2.1a/ST version is sometimes called Soyuz ST-A. The first launch, from Guiana, (17 December 2011 for Pléiades-HR 1A, SSOT, ELISA (4 satellites)) was a success.

Soyuz 2.1b

The 2.1b version adds an upgraded engine (RD-0124) with improved performance to the second stage. First launch took place from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 on 26 July 2008 with classified military payload.^[4]

The 2.1b/ST version is sometimes called Soyuz ST-B. The first launch, from Guiana, was a success (21 October 2011), for the first two Galileo IOV satellites.

Soyuz 2.1v

First draft of the 2.1v version was finished in 2009. It will be a "light" version of the Soyuz-2 without the side boosters (blocks B, V, G and D). Block A engine will be replaced by a more powerful one NK-33-1 and eventually the RD-193. The new launcher is able to deliver up to 2.8 tonnes in low Earth orbit.^[5]

Suborbital test flight

On 8 November 2004, at 18:30 GMT (21:30 Moscow Time), the first Soyuz-2 carrier rocket, in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration, was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia. The rocket followed a sub-orbital trajectory, with the third stage and boilerplate payload re-entering over the Pacific Ocean.

Commercial launches

MetOp-A

The first attempt at launching a Soyuz-2 to orbit, with the MetOp-A satellite, occurred on 17 July 2006. It was scrubbed two hours before the launch by an automatic sequence, after the onboard computer failed to check the launch azimuth. Fuelling of the rocket was underway at the time, and all launch complex equipment and on-board preliminary checks had proceeded without incident. The rocket was left fuelled on the launch pad, for the next attempt on 18 July. Launch was eventually conducted on 19 October.

Launch history

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Soyuz (rocket).

• Soyuz programme

References

External links

• Encyclopedia Astronautica article on Soyuz 2.1
• Encyclopedia Astronautica article on Soyuz 2.1/Fregat
• European Space Agency about Soyuz-ST (Russian name Soyuz-STK)
• Soyuz User's Manual, from Starsem
• Soyuz-2 launch vehicle, Russian Federal Space Agency

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