Soyuz-FG

Infobox rocket
name =Soyuz FG (Soyuz-FG/Fregat)

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caption =The launch of Soyuz TMA-9 atop a Soyuz-FG rocket.
function =Orbital carrier rocket
manufacturer =TsSKB-Progress
country-origin =Russia
cpl-year =
cpl =
height =49.5 m for Soyuz-FG and 42.5 m for Soyuz-FG/Fregat
diameter =10.3 m
mass = 305,000 kg
alt-mass =672,000 lb
stages = 2 (Soyuz FG) or 3 (Soyuz-FG/Fregat)
LEO-payload = 7,100 kg for Soyuz-FG and 7,800 kg for Soyuz-FG/Fregat
payload-location = 800km SSO
(only for Soyuz-FG/Fregat)
payload = 4,500 kg
alt-payload = 9,900 lb
payload-location2 =
payload2 =
alt-payload2 =
status = Active
sites = LC-1 (Soyuz-FG) & LC-31 (Soyuz-FG/Fregat), Baikonur
first=Soyuz-FG: May 20 2001
Soyuz-FG/Fregat June 2 2003
launches =24 (FG: 15, FG/Fregat: 9)
success =24
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/UDMHThe Soyuz-FG launch vehicle is an improved version of the Soyuz-U, from the R-7 family of rockets, designed and constructed by TsSKB-Progress in Samara. It made its maiden flight on May 20 2001, carrying a Progress-M1 6 cargo spacecraft to the ISS.

Since October 30 2002 it has been used by Russian Federal Space Agency only for bringing Soyuz-TMA manned spacecraft to the ISS. As of April 2008 Soyuz-FG has performed 15 flights, bringing to the ISS 3 Progress-M1 and 12 Soyuz-TMA spacecraft, with its last launch on 8 April 2008. All launches have been successful.

Another version of the Soyuz-FG is the Soyuz-FG/Fregat with Fregat as its 3rd stage, developed and produced by Lavochkin Association in Khimki. A European-Russian company Starsem owns all rights to launches using this version. As of April 2008 there have been 9 launches of Soyuz-FG/Fregat with commercial payloads. Its maiden flight occurred on June 2 2003.

The analogue control system of this spacecraft significantly limits its capabilities however and it will eventually be replaced by the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle.

The Soyuz-FG is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Launch site LC-1 for Soyuz-FG and LC-31 for Soyuz-FG/Fregat.

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Launch history

References

See also

* R-7
* Soyuz launch vehicle
* Soyuz spacecraft
* Soyuz programme
* Soyuz-U
* International Space Station
* Russian Federal Space Agency
* Starsem

External links

* [http://www.roscosmos.ru/Roket1Show.asp?RoketID=32 Russian Federal Space Agency about Soyuz-FG]
* [http://www.roscosmos.ru/Roket1Show.asp?RoketID=36&Lang=ENG Russian Federal Space Agency about Soyuz-FG/Fregat (in English)]
* [http://www.samspace.ru/RN/souz_fg.htm LV's manufacturer TsSKB-Progress about Soyuz-FG] (in Russian)