This article is about the Soyuz-FG rocket. For other Soyuz variants, see Soyuz (rocket family).
Soyuz-FG
FunctionMedium-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerRKTs Progress
Country-originRussia
Cpl₽773,600,000 (2012)[1]
Height51 m (167 ft)[1]
Diameter2.7-3.715 m ft[1]
Mass310,000-313,000 kg[1]
Stages
  • FG: 3
  • FG/Fregat: 4
FamilyR-7 (Soyuz)
Derived fromSoyuz-U
DerivativesSoyuz-2
StatusRetired
SitesBaikonur, LC-1/5 and LC-31/6
Launches
  • 70:
  •      FG: 60[5]
  •      FG/Fregat: 10[6]
Success69
Fail1 (Soyuz MS-10)
First20 May 2001 (Progress M1-6)
Last25 September 2019 (Soyuz MS-15)
PayloadsSoyuz-TMA · Soyuz-MS · Progress · Venus Express
Soyuz-FG
LocationLEO[1][2]
Altitude200 km (120 mi)
Inclination51.8°
Mass
  • FG: 6,900 kg (15,200 lb)
  • FG/Fregat: 7,800 kg (17,200 lb)[citation needed]
Block B, V, G & D[a]
booster
DiffFirst stage
Length19.6 m (64 ft)
Diameter2.68 m (8.8 ft)
Empty3,800 kg (8,400 lb)
Gross43,400 kg (95,700 lb)
Propmass40,350 kg (88,960 lb)[1]
Engines1 × RD-107A
Thrust
  • SL: 838.5 kN (188,500 lbf)
  • vac: 1,021.3 kN (229,600 lbf)
Si
  • SL: 263.3 isp
  • vac: 320.2 isp
Burntime118 seconds
FuelLOX / RG-1
Block A[3]
stage
StagenoSecond
Diffcore
Length27.1 m (89 ft)
Diameter2.95 m (9.7 ft)
Empty6,550 kg (14,440 lb)
Gross99,500 kg (219,400 lb)
Propmass92,600 kg (204,100 lb)[1]
Engines1 × RD-108A
Thrust
  • SL: 792.41 kN (178,140 lbf)
  • vac: 921.86 kN (207,240 lbf)
Si
  • SL: 257.7 isp
  • vac: 320.6 isp
Burntime286 seconds
FuelLOX / RG-1
Block I[b]
stage
StagenoThird
Length6.7 m (22 ft)
Diameter2.66 m (8.7 ft)
Empty2,410 kg (5,310 lb)
Gross25,300 kg (55,800 lb)
Propmass22,800 kg (50,300 lb)[1]
Engines1 × RD-0110
Thrust297.93 kN (66,980 lbf)
Si326 isp
Burntime230 seconds
FuelLOX / RG-1
Fregat[4]
stage
StagenoFourth
Diffoptional
Length1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Empty930 kg (2,050 lb)
Propmass5,250 kg (11,570 lb)
Engines1 × S5.92
Thrust19.85 kN (4,460 lbf)
Si333.2 isp
BurntimeUp to 1,100 seconds (up to 20 starts)
FuelN2O4 / UDMH

The Soyuz-FG was an improved variant of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle from the R-7 rocket family, developed by the Progress Rocket Space Centre in Samara, Russia. It featured upgraded first and second stage engines, RD-107A and RD-108A, respectively, with enhanced injector heads that improved combustion efficiency and specific impulse. The designation "FG" refers to forsunochnaya golovka (injector head) in Russian.[1]

Soyuz-FG made its maiden flight on 20 May 2001, delivering a Progress cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). It became the primary vehicle for launching crewed Soyuz TMA, Soyuz TMA-M, and Soyuz MS spacecraft from 2002 until its retirement in 2019.[7]

Launches occurred from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan: crewed missions from Gagarin's Start (Site 1/5) and satellite launches from Site 31/6.

Design

Soyuz-FG was introduced in May 2001 as a transitional solution while the more advanced Soyuz-2 was still in development. Development of the upgraded RD-107A (boosters) and RD-108A (core) engines outpaced the rest of the Soyuz-2 rocket. The availability of the upgraded engines allowed their early use on Soyuz-FG, while Soyuz-U continued using existing engine stockpiles.[1]

The RD-107A and RD-108A engines, replaced the older RD-107 and RD-108 units, switching from 260 two-component centrifugal injectors to over 1,000 one-component injectors. This refinement enabled more complete propellant combustion, reduced high-frequency vibrations in combustion chambers, and improved specific impulse by 5 isp, a five percent improvement, which allowed for a payload increase of 250 to 300 kg.[1][8]

For uncrewed missions, Soyuz-FG could fly with a Fregat upper stage, built by Lavochkin in Khimki. The first flight of this configuration took place on 2 June 2003, with a total of ten such launches marketed by the European-Russian company Starsem.[6]

Soyuz-FG flew 70 times, with one failure on 11 October 2018 during the launch of Soyuz MS-10. A faulty sensor led to a booster collision with the core stage shortly after liftoff, triggering an emergency abort. The crew—NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin—safely returned to Earth.[9]

Following the MS-15 launch on 25 September 2019, Soyuz-FG was retired in favor of the fully digital Soyuz-2, which offers more precise guidance and greater mission flexibility.[1]

Launch history

Date and time (UTC)ConfigurationSerial numberLaunch siteResultPayloadRemarks
20 May 2001
22:32		Soyuz-FGК15000-001Baikonur, Site 1/5Progress M1-6ISS resupply
26 November 2001
18:24		Soyuz-FGФ15000-002Baikonur, Site 1/5Progress M1-7ISS resupply
Kolibri 2000
25 September 2002
16:58		Soyuz-FGЭ15000-003Baikonur, Site 1/5Progress M1-9ISS resupply
30 October 2002
16:58		Soyuz-FGЭ15000-004Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-1Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS escape craft
26 April 2003
03:53		Soyuz-FGЭ15000-006Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-2Crewed flight with 2 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 7
2 June 2003
18:24		Soyuz-FG/FregatЭ15000-005/
ST-11		Baikonur LC-31/6rowspan=2Mars Express[10]Mars orbiter
Beagle 2Mars lander
Spacecraft failed after landing
18 October 2003
05:38		Soyuz-FGД15000-007Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-3Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 8
27 December 2003
21:30		Soyuz-FG/FregatД15000-008/
ST-12		Baikonur, Site 31/6AMOS-2Communications satellite
19 April 2004
05:19		Soyuz-FGЖ15000-009Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-4Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 9
14 October 2004
03:06		Soyuz-FGЖ15000-012Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-5Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 10
15 April 2005
00:46		Soyuz-FGЖ15000-014Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-6Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 11
13 August 2005
23:28		Soyuz-FG/FregatЖ15000-011/
ST-13		Baikonur, Site 31/6Galaxy 14Communications satellite
1 October 2005
03:54		Soyuz-FGП15000-017Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-7Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 12
9 November 2005
03:33		Soyuz-FG/FregatЖ15000-010/
ST-14		Baikonur, Site 31/6Venus ExpressVenus orbiter
28 December 2005
05:19		Soyuz-FG/FregatП15000-015/
ST-15		Baikonur, Site 31/6GIOVE-ANavigation satellite
30 March 2006
02:30		Soyuz-FGП15000-018Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-8Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 13
18 September 2006
04:08		Soyuz-FGЦ15000-023Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-9Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 14
7 April 2007
17:31		Soyuz-FGЦ15000-019Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-10Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 15
29 May 2007
20:31		Soyuz-FG/FregatЦ15000-021Baikonur, Site 31/6Globalstar × 4Communications satellites
10 October 2007
13:22 [1]		Soyuz-FGЦ15000-020Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-11Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 16
20 October 2007
20:12		Soyuz-FG/FregatЦ15000-022Baikonur, Site 31/6Globalstar × 4Communications satellites
14 December 2007
13:17		Soyuz-FG/FregatЦ15000-025Baikonur, Site 31/6RADARSAT-2Earth observation
8 April 2008
11:16		Soyuz-FGШ15000-024Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-12Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 17
First South Korean in space.
26 April 2008
22:16		Soyuz-FG/FregatП15000-016Baikonur, Site 31/6GIOVE-BNavigation satellite
12 October 2008
07:01		Soyuz-FGШ15000-026Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-13Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 18
26 March 2009
11:49		Soyuz-FGЮ15000-027Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-14Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 19
27 May 2009
10:34 [2]		Soyuz-FGЮ15000-030Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-15Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 20
30 September 2009
07:14		Soyuz-FGБ15000-029Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-16Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 21
20 December 2009
21:52		Soyuz-FGБ15000-031Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-17Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 22
2 April 2010
04:04		Soyuz-FGЮ15000-028Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-18Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 23
15 June 2010
21:35		Soyuz-FGБ15000-032Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-19Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 24
7 October 2010
23:10		Soyuz-FGБ15000-035Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-01MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 25
15 December 2010
19:09		Soyuz-FGБ15000-034Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-20Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 26
4 April 2011
22:18		Soyuz-FGИ15000-036Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-21Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 27
7 June 2011
20:12		Soyuz-FGИ15000-037Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-02MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 28
14 November 2011
04:14		Soyuz-FGИ15000-038Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-22Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 29
21 December 2011
13:16		Soyuz-FGЛ15000-039Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-03MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 30/31
15 May 2012
03:01		Soyuz-FGЛ15000-041Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-04MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 31/32
15 July 2012
02:40		Soyuz-FGЛ15000-042Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-05MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 32/33
22 July 2012
06:41		Soyuz-FG/FregatБ15000-033Baikonur, Site 31/6
Earth observation and technology demonstration satellites
23 October 2012
10:51		Soyuz-FGЛ15000-044Baikonur, Site 31/6Soyuz TMA-06MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 33/34
19 December 2012
12:12		Soyuz-FGЛ15000-040Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-07MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 34/35
28 March 2013
20:43		Soyuz-FGЕ15000-043Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-08MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 35/36
28 May 2013
20:31		Soyuz-FGЕ15000-045Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-09MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 36/37
25 September 2013
20:58		Soyuz-FGЕ15000-046Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-10MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 37/38
7 November 2013
04:14		Soyuz-FGТ15000-048Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-11MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 38/39
25 March 2014
21:17		Soyuz-FGТ15000-047Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-12MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 39/40
28 May 2014
19:57		Soyuz-FGТ15000-049Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-13MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 40/41
25 September 2014
20:25		Soyuz-FGТ15000-050Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-14MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 41/42
23 November 2014
21:01		Soyuz-FGT15000-051Baikonur, Site 31/6Soyuz TMA-15MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 42/43
27 March 2015
19:42		Soyuz-FGG15000-053Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-16MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 43/44
22 July 2015
21:03		Soyuz-FGG15000-052Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-17MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 44/45
2 September 2015
04:38		Soyuz-FGG15000-054Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-18MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 45/46
15 December 2015
11:03		Soyuz-FGG15000-055Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-19MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 46/47
18 March 2016
21:26		Soyuz-FGR15000-057Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz TMA-20MCrewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 47/48
7 July 2016
01:36		Soyuz-FGR15000-056Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-01Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 48/49
19 October 2016
08:05		Soyuz-FGR15000-059Baikonur, Site 31/6Soyuz MS-02Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 49/50
17 November 2016
20:20		Soyuz-FGR15000-060Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-03Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 50/51
20 April 2017
07:13		Soyuz-FGU15000-065Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-04Crewed flight with 2 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 51/52
28 July 2017
15:40		Soyuz-FGR15000-058Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-05Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 52/53
12 September 2017
21:17		Soyuz-FGU15000-063Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-06Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 53/54
17 December 2017
07:21		Soyuz-FGR15000-061Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-07Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 54/55
21 March 2018
17:44		Soyuz-FGN15000-066Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-08Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 55/56
6 June 2018
11:12		Soyuz-FGU15000-064Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-09Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 56/57
11 October 2018
08:40		Soyuz-FGN15000-062Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-10Crewed flight with 2 cosmonauts
Planned for ISS Expedition 57
Aborted during ascent, crew landed safely.
16 November 2018
18:14		Soyuz-FGN15000-068Baikonur, Site 1/5Progress MS-10ISS resupply
3 December 2018
11:31		Soyuz-FGN15000-067Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-11Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 57/58/59
14 March 2019
19:14		Soyuz-FGN15000-070Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-12Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 59/60
20 July 2019
16:28		Soyuz-FGN15000-069Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-13Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 60/61
25 September 2019[11]
13:57:43		Soyuz-FGN15000-071Baikonur, Site 1/5Soyuz MS-15Crewed flight with 3 cosmonauts
ISS Expedition 61/62
Last flight of Soyuz-FG variant, to be replaced by Soyuz-2 for future crewed missions.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This is a transliteration of the second through fifth letters of the Cyrillic alphabet (Б, В, Г, Д). A sense-for-sense translation would correspond to the second through fifth letters of the Latin alphabet, 'Block B, C, D & E'.[3]
  2. ^ This is a transliteration of the tenth letter of the Cyrillic alphabet (И), which also carries the numerical value 10 in Cyrillic numerals. A sense-for-sense translation would use a Roman numeral, 'Block X'.

References

  • McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  1. ^ Zak, Anatoly & Chabot, Alain (25 September 2019). "Soyuz-FG". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. ^ "SOYUZ-FG Launch Vehicle". TsSKB-Progress. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  3. ^ "ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ КОСМИЧЕСКОЕ АГЕНТСТВО (РОСКОСМОС)". www.federalspace.ru. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  4. ^ "ru:Конструкция разгонного блока "Фрегат"" (in Russian). NPO Lavochkin. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Soyuz-FG (11A511U-FG)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  6. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Soyuz-FG Fregat (11A511U-FG)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  7. ^ Zak, Anatoly. "Soyuz-FG's long road to retirement". Russian Space Web. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  8. ^ "ЖРД РД-107 и РД-108 и их модификации" [RD-107 and RD-108 and their modifications] (in Russian). Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  9. ^ Berger, Eric (1 November 2018). "Dramatic footage of Soyuz accident shows rocket booster collision – For the second human launch in a row, there's a likely quality control issue.". Ars Technica. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Soyuz FG". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13.
  11. ^ "ru:Источник: Россия отправит к МКС семь кораблей и модуль "Наука" в 2019 году" [Russia plans to send seven missions to ISS in 2019 including Nauka module] (in Russian). Novosti kosmonavtiki. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.