SoyuzFG

Soyuz-FG is a Russian expendable launch vehicle in the Soyuz family. It was developed by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center with production support from TsSKB-Progress and was in service from the early 2000s until its retirement in the late 2010s. The launcher was primarily used to deliver crewed Soyuz spacecraft to low Earth orbit, including missions to the International Space Station, as well as various commercial and government payloads.

Design and configuration follow the traditional Soyuz layout: a core stage surrounded by four strap-on boosters, followed by a second stage and an upper stage used for final orbital insertion. The vehicle employed a digital flight control system and relied on established propulsion and guidance technologies to support reliable ascent profiles. The payload stack is protected by a payload fairing during ascent.

Operational history includes its role as the main vehicle for crew rotations to the ISS during the 2000s and 2010s, complementing other launch systems. The Soyuz-FG conducted dozens of launches, including manned missions and satellite deployments, contributing to Russia’s ongoing access to space.

With the introduction of newer variants in the Soyuz-2 family, such as Soyuz-2.1a and 2.1b, the Soyuz-FG was gradually phased out in favor of enhanced performance and compatibility with modern ground systems and payloads. By the end of the decade, regular flights had ceased, and the launcher moved toward retirement or limited reserve use.

Overall, Soyuz-FG represents a transitional variant within the long-running Soyuz lineage, providing dependable crewed launch capability and serving as a bridge to newer Russian launch technologies.