Soyuz 2 rocket

Infobox rocket
name =Soyuz 2 (Soyuz 2.1a/2.1b/STK)

---

caption = A MetOp spacecraft ready for the launch atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket.
function =Orbital carrier rocket
manufacturer =TsSKB-Progress
country-origin =Russia
cpl-year =
cpl =
height =46.1 m
alt-height =151.2 ft
diameter =2.95 m
alt-diameter =9.67 ft
mass = 305,000 kg
alt-mass =672,000 lb
stages = 2 or 3
LEO-payload = 7,800 kg
alt-LEO = 17,100 lb
payload-location = 800km SSO
(With Fregat)
payload = 4,500 kg
alt-payload = 9,900 lb
payload-location2 =
payload2 =
alt-payload2 =
status = Active
sites = LC-31/6, Baikonur
LC-43 Plesetsk
ELS, Centre Spatial Guyanais*
"* = Under construction"
first=2.1a: 8 November 2004
2.1b: 27 December 2006
last=
launches =3 (2.1a: 2, 2.1b: 1)
success =3
fail =
partial =
boosters =4
boosterengines =1 RD-117
boosterthrust =1,021.097 kN
alt-boosterthrust =
boosterSI =310 sec
boostertime =120 seconds
boosterfuel =LOX/RP-1
stage1engines =1 RD-118
stage1thrust =999.601 kN
alt-stage1thrust =224,719 LB_f
stage1SI =311 sec
stage1time =286 seconds
stage1fuel = LOX/RP-1
stage2engines =1 RD-0124
stage2thrust =294 kN
alt-stage2thrust =66,093 LB_f
stage2SI =359 sec
stage2time =300 seconds
stage2fuel = LOX/RP-1
stage3diff = Optional
stage3name =Fregat
stage3engines =1 S5.92
stage3thrust =19.6 kN
alt-stage3thrust =4,406 LB_f
stage3SI =327 sec
stage3time =877 seconds
stage3fuel = N2O4/UDMH

Soyuz 2 is the collective designation for the new generation versions of the Russian Soyuz rocket. In its basic form, it is a carrier rocket for placing payloads into low Earth orbit, however it is often flown with an upper stage, which allows it to lift payloads into higher orbits, such as Molniya and Geosynchronous orbits.

The boosters and two core stages feature uprated engines with improved injection systems, compared to the Soyuz-U. 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 are currently launched from LC-31 at Baikonur. These will move to a new new ELS ("l'Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz") launch site, which is currently being built at the Guiana Space Centre on the northern coast of South America. The Soyuz-2 is expected to deliver 3 to 3.5 tonnes to GTO from the ELS site. The first launch is expected in 2009.

The Soyuz 2.1 is an advanced version with upgraded digital flight control and telemetry systems. These improvements allow it to be launched from a fixed launch platform, and adjust its heading in flight, whereas the launch platforms for earlier R-7 derived rockets had to be rotated as the rocket could not perform a roll to change its heading in flight.The Soyuz 2 has a higher performance rating, and higher payload capacity than the previous versions of the Soyuz. It has replaced the Molniya-M rocket, and is expected to replace the Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG rockets which are currently in service alongside it, at some point in the near future. In 2009, it will take over launches of Progress spacecraft, a role currently filled by the Soyuz-U, and in 2010, it will replace the Soyuz-FG as the carrier rocket for manned Soyuz missions.

uborbital 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 history

ee also

*Soyuz rocket
*Soyuz spacecraft
*Soyuz programme
*Starsem
*R-7 Semyorka

References

External links

* [http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/soyuzst.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica article on Soyuz 2.1] (Note - Rocket is mistakenly called Soyuz ST)
* [http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/soygatst.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica article on Soyuz 2.1/Fregat] (Note - Rocket is mistakenly called Soyuz ST)
* [http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Access_to_Space/SEM6JRS4LZE_0.html European Space Agency about Soyuz-ST (Russian name Soyuz-STK)]