Soyuz2

Soyuz-2 is a family of Russian orbital launch vehicles developed by TsSKB-Progress for Roscosmos as a modernization of the historic Soyuz-U rocket. It introduces a digital flight control system, enhanced telemetry and diagnostics, and improvements intended to increase accuracy and payload capability. The design emphasizes commonality with the existing Soyuz heritage while enabling more versatile mission profiles, including both crewed and uncrewed launches.

The main configurations in the Soyuz-2 family are Soyuz-2.1a, Soyuz-2.1b, and a lighter variant known as Soyuz-2.1v. The 2.1a and 2.1b configurations use a four-strapped booster arrangement around a central core stage and commonly employ an upper stage such as Fregat to deliver payloads to final or higher orbits. The 2.1v variant adopts a single-core design without strap-on boosters and is designed for lighter payload missions. All configurations are compatible with a range of upper stages and payload adapters depending on mission requirements.

Operationally, Soyuz-2 has become the workhorse for Roscosmos, launching crewed Soyuz spacecraft, Progress cargo ships, and numerous commercial and government satellites. It has been launched from sites including Baikonur Cosmodrome and, in increasing numbers, Vostochny Cosmodrome, contributing to both orbital deliveries to low Earth orbit and to higher-energy missions through suitable upper-stage combinations.

Development and service began in the early 2000s as a successor to Soyuz-U, with ongoing upgrades and variants expanding its capability and reliability. The Soyuz-2 family remains a central element of Russia’s satellite deployment and crewed space operations, balancing preserved heritage with modern propulsion and avionics technologies.