View source for Soyuz programme

{{short description|Human spaceflight programme of the Soviet Union}}
{{Use British English Oxford spelling|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox space programme
| name            = Soyuz programme
| image           = ASTP Soyuz Spacecraft.jpg
| caption         = Artist's impression of the Soyuz 19 spacecraft from the [[Apollo–Soyuz]] mission
| country         = [[Soviet Union]]<br>[[Russia]]
| organization    = [[Roscosmos]] (1991–present)
| programme       = y
| status          = Ongoing
| firstcrewed     = [[Soyuz 1]]
| successes       = 
| failures        = 
| partialfailures = 
| launchsite      = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]]
| uncrewvehicle   = [[Progress (spacecraft)|Progress]]
| crewvehicle     = [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]]
| capacity        = 1–3
| launcher        = {{hlist|[[Soyuz-U]]|[[Soyuz-FG]]|[[Soyuz-2]]}}
}}
{{Soviet space program sidebar}}

The '''Soyuz programme''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɔɪ|juː|z}} {{Respell|SOY|yooz}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɔː|-}} {{Respell|SAW|-}}; {{langx|ru|link=no|Союз}} {{IPA|ru|sɐˈjus|}}, meaning "Union") is a [[human spaceflight]] programme initiated by the [[Soviet Union]] in the early 1960s. The Soyuz spacecraft was originally part of a [[Moon landing]] project intended to put a Soviet [[astronaut|cosmonaut]] on the [[Moon]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Soyuz |last=Harland |first=David M. |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |date= |access-date=20 February 2022 |url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/Soyuz |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227040726/https://www.britannica.com/technology/Soyuz |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the third Soviet [[human spaceflight]] programme after the [[Vostok programme|Vostok]] (1961–1963) and [[Voskhod programme|Voskhod]] (1964–1965) programmes.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter=Russian Life Support Systems: Vostok, Voskhod, and Soyuz |last=Hendrickx |first=Bart |editor1-first=Erik |editor1-last=Seedhouse |editor2-last=Shayler |editor2-first=David J. |title=Handbook of Life Support Systems for Spacecraft and Extraterrestrial Habitats |year=2018 |pages=1–15 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-09575-2_39-1 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |access-date=20 February 2022 |isbn=978-3-319-09575-2 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-09575-2_39-1 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220215611/https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-09575-2_39-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The programme consists of the [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz capsule]] and the [[Soyuz (rocket family)|Soyuz rocket]] and is now the responsibility of [[Roscosmos]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is the Soyuz Spacecraft? |last=Wild |first=Flint |work=NASA |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=20 February 2022 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-the-soyuz-spacecraft-k-4 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123014158/http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-the-soyuz-spacecraft-k-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Forbes"/> After the retirement of the [[Space Shuttle]] in 2011, the Soyuz was the only way for humans to get to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) until 30 May 2020 when [[Crew Dragon]] flew to the ISS for the first time with astronauts.<ref name="Forbes">{{Cite web |title=The Last Soyuz - NASA Ends Reliance On Russia With Final Launch Before Crew Dragon |last=O'Callaghan |first=Jonathan |work=Forbes |date=9 April 2020 |access-date=20 February 2022 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2020/04/09/the-last-soyuznasa-ends-reliance-on-russia-with-final-launch-before-crew-dragon/ |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220220054/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2020/04/09/the-last-soyuznasa-ends-reliance-on-russia-with-final-launch-before-crew-dragon/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SpaceX successfully launches Nasa astronauts into orbit |last1=Luscombe |first1=Richard |last2=Sample |first2=Ian |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 May 2020 |access-date=20 February 2022 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/may/30/spacex-nasa-crewed-spaceflight-launch-dragon-capsule-elon-musk-trump |archive-date=31 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531003728/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/may/30/spacex-nasa-crewed-spaceflight-launch-dragon-capsule-elon-musk-trump |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Soyuz rocket==
[[File:Soyuz TMA-13 Edit.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Soyuz TMA-13]] lifting off from [[Gagarin's Start]] at Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2008]]
[[File:Soyuz rocket ASTP.jpg|thumb|upright|Soyuz rocket on launch pad]]{{Needs expansion|date=November 2024}}
The launch vehicles used in the Soyuz [[expendable launch system]] are manufactured at the [[Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center]] (TsSKB-Progress) in [[Samara, Russia]]. As well as being used in the Soyuz programme as the launcher for the crewed Soyuz spacecraft, Soyuz launch vehicles are now also used to launch robotic [[Progress spacecraft|Progress supply spacecraft]] to the [[International Space Station]] and commercial launches marketed and operated by TsSKB-Progress and the [[Starsem]] company. Currently Soyuz vehicles are launched from the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] in Kazakhstan and the [[Plesetsk Cosmodrome]] in northwest Russia and, since 2011, Soyuz launch vehicles are also being launched from the [[Guiana Space Centre]] in French Guiana.<ref name=sitehw>{{cite web |url=http://www.arianespace.com/news-soyuz-vega/2008/2008-10-03-Vega-Soyuz.asp |title=Soyuz & Vega at the Spaceport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415214124/http://www.arianespace.com/news-soyuz-vega/2008/2008-10-03-Vega-Soyuz.asp |archive-date=15 April 2009 }}</ref> The Spaceport's [[Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz|new Soyuz launch site]] has been handling Soyuz launches since 21 October 2011, the date of the first launch.<ref name="arianespace-2011-05-23">{{cite web|title=Galileo: Europe readies itself for October launch|url=http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2011/5-23-2011-galileo-soyuz.asp|access-date=5 June 2011|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175058/http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2011/5-23-2011-galileo-soyuz.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> As of December 2019, 19 [[Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre|Guiana Soyuz launches]] had been made from [[Guiana Space Centre|French Guiana Space Centre]], all successful.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Europe_s_Spaceport/CNES_at_Europe_s_Spaceport |title=CNES at Europe's Spaceport |work=European Space Agency |publisher=ESA |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=7 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007135418/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Europe_s_Spaceport/CNES_at_Europe_s_Spaceport |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Europe_s_Spaceport/ESA_at_Europe_s_Spaceport |title=ESA at Europe's Spaceport |work=European Space Agency |publisher=ESA |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=7 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007135422/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Europe_s_Spaceport/ESA_at_Europe_s_Spaceport |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Europe_s_Spaceport/Arianespace_at_Europe_s_Spaceport |title=Arianespace at Europe's Spaceport |work=European Space Agency |publisher=ESA |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=6 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106041647/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Europe_s_Spaceport/Arianespace_at_Europe_s_Spaceport |url-status=live }}</ref> 

The [[Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz rocket]] family is one of the most dependable and widely utilized launch vehicles in the history of space travel. It has been in operation for nearly six decades, having been developed by the [[Soviet Union]] and presently run by [[Russia]]. The Soyuz rockets have played an important role in both crewed and uncrewed space missions, launching people to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) and delivering satellites and scientific payloads.<ref>{{Cite book |last=NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |url=https://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20100014848 |title=NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20100014848: Estimating the Reliability of a Soyuz Spacecraft Mission |date=2010-01-01 |language=english}}</ref>

==Soyuz spacecraft==
{{main|Soyuz (spacecraft)}}
The basic [[Soyuz spacecraft]] design was the basis for many projects, many of which were never developed. Its earliest form was intended to travel to the Moon without employing a huge booster like the [[Saturn V]] or the Soviet [[N1 rocket|N-1]] by repeatedly docking with upper stages that had been put in orbit using the same rocket as the Soyuz. This and the initial civilian designs were done under the Soviet Chief Designer [[Sergei Korolev|Sergei Pavlovich Korolev]], who did not live to see the craft take flight. Several military derivatives took precedence in the Soviet design process, though they never came to pass.

A Soyuz spacecraft consists of three parts (from front to back):
*a spheroid [[orbital module]]
*a small aerodynamic [[reentry module]]
*a cylindrical [[service module]] with solar panels attached

There have been many variants of the Soyuz spacecraft, including:
* [[Sever (spacecraft)|Sever]] early crewed spacecraft proposal to replace Vostok (1959) 
**[[Sever (spacecraft)#Designated Sever proposals|L1-1960]] crewed circumlunar spacecraft proposal (1960); evolved into the Soyuz-A design
**[[Sever (spacecraft)#Designated Sever proposals|L4-1960]] crewed lunar orbiter proposal (1960)
**[[Sever (spacecraft)#Designated Sever proposals|L1-1962]] crewed lunar flyby spacecraft proposal (1962); early design led to Soyuz
**[[Sever (spacecraft)#OS-1962 space station|OS-1962]] space station proposal (1962)
* [[Soyuz-A]] 7K-9K-11K circumlunar complex proposal (1963)
** [[Soyuz-A|Soyuz 7K]] crewed spacecraft concept; cancelled in 1964 in favor of the [[LK-1]]
** [[Soyuz-B|Soyuz 9K]] proposed orbital tug; cancelled in 1964 when the Soyuz 7K and Soyuz P were cancelled
** [[Soyuz-V|Soyuz 11K]] proposed fuel tanker; cancelled in 1964 when the Soyuz 7K and Soyuz P were cancelled
* [[L3-1963]] crewed lunar lander proposal (1963)
* [[L4-1963]] crewed lunar orbiter proposal; modified 7K (1963)
* [[Soyuz 7K-OK]] (1967–1970)
** [[Soyuz 7K-L1]] Zond (1967–1970)
** [[Soyuz 7K-LOK|Soyuz 7K-L3]] LOK (1971–1972)
** [[Soyuz 7K-OKS]] (1971); also known as 7KT-OK
* [[Soyuz 7K-T]] or "ferry" (1973–1981)
**[[Soyuz 7K-T-AF]] (1973); 7K-T modified for space station flight with Orion 2 space telescope
** [[Soyuz 7K-T|Soyuz 7K-T/A9]] (1974–1978); 7K-T modified for flights to military Almaz space stations
* [[Soyuz 7K-TM]] (1974–1976)
** [[Soyuz 7K-MF6|7K-MF6]] (1976); 7K-TM modified for space station flight with MKF-6 camera
* [[Soyuz-T]] (1976–1986)
* [[Zarya (space capsule)|Zarya]] planned 'Super Soyuz' replacement for Soyuz and Progress (1985)
** [[Alpha Lifeboat]] rescue spacecraft based on Zarya (1995); cancelled in favor of a modified Soyuz TM
** [[Big Soyuz]] enlarged version of Soyuz reentry vehicle (2008)
* [[Soyuz-TM]] (1986–2003)
* [[Soyuz TMA]] (2003–2012)
* [[CSTS|Soyuz-ACTS]] (2006)
* [[Soyuz TMA#TMA-M|Soyuz TMA-M]] (2010–2016)
* [[Soyuz MS]] (since 2016)
* [[Military Soyuz]] (P, PPK, R, 7K-VI Zvezda, and OIS)
** [[Soyuz P]] crewed satellite interceptor proposal (1962); cancelled in 1964 in favor of the [[Istrebitel Sputnikov]] program
** [[Military Soyuz#Soyuz R|Soyuz R]] command-reconnaissance spacecraft proposal (1962); cancelled in 1966 and replaced by Almaz
*** [[File:Soyuz rocket and spaceship V1-1.svg|thumb|The Soyuz MS spacecraft and its Soyuz FG rocket|351x351px]][[Soyuz 7K-TK]] transport spacecraft proposal for delivering cosmonauts to Soyuz R military stations (1966); cancelled in 1970 in favor of the TKS spacecraft
** [[Military Soyuz#Soyuz PPK|Soyuz PPK]] revised version of Soyuz P (1964)
** [[Soyuz 7K-VI Zvezda]] space station proposal (1964) 
** [[Soyuz-VI]] crewed combat spacecraft proposal; cancelled in 1965
** [[Military Soyuz#OIS (Orbital Research Station)|Soyuz OIS]] (1967)
*** [[Military Soyuz#Soyuz OB-VI|Soyuz OB-VI]] space station proposal (1967)
*** [[Military Soyuz#Soyuz 7K-S|Soyuz 7K-S]] military transport proposal (1974)
*** [[Military Soyuz#Soyuz 7K-ST|Soyuz 7K-ST]] concept for Soyuz T and TM (1974)

==Derivatives==
The [[Zond program|Zond]] spacecraft was designed to take a crew around the Moon, but never achieved the required degree of safety or political need. [[Zond 5]] did circle the Moon in September 1968, with two tortoises and other life forms, and returned safely to Earth although in an [[atmospheric entry]] which probably would have killed human travelers. 

The [[Progress spacecraft|Progress]] series of robotic cargo ships for the [[Salyut]], [[Mir]], and ISS use the engine section, orbital module, automatic navigation, docking mechanism, and overall layout of the Soyuz spacecraft, but are incapable of reentry.

While not a direct derivative, the Chinese [[Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou spacecraft]] follows the basic template originally pioneered by Soyuz.<ref>[http://www.astronautix.com/articles/shefacts.htm Shenzhou-5 – Quick Facts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201040804/http://astronautix.com/articles/shefacts.htm |date=1 February 2010 }}. Astronautix.com. Retrieved on 23 October 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sinodefence.com/space/spacecraft/shenzhou.asp | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202015355/http://www.sinodefence.com/space/spacecraft/shenzhou.asp |archivedate=2 December 2010 | title=ShenZhou Manned Spacecraft | publisher=sinodefence.com | accessdate=18 May 2021 }}</ref>

==Soyuz crewed flights==
{{See|List of Soviet human spaceflight missions|List of Russian human spaceflight missions}}
* [[List of Soviet human spaceflight missions|Soviet human spaceflight missions]] started in 1961 and ended in 1991 with the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]].
* The [[List of Russian human spaceflight missions|Russian human spaceflight missions]] program started in 1991 and continues to this day. Soyuz crewed missions were the only spacecraft visiting the [[International Space Station]], starting from when the [[Space Shuttle]] program ended in 2011, until the launch of [[Crew Dragon Demo-2]] on 30 May 2020.<ref name= "launch">{{Cite web |url= http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/ |title= Launch and Landing |access-date= 1 July 2011 |publisher= NASA |archive-date= 14 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150914234157/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="Dragon Crew 2 Demo">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-launched-two-astronauts-changing-spaceflight-forever/ |title=SpaceX Launched Two Astronauts—Changing Spaceflight Forever |access-date=31 May 2020 |magazine=Wired |last1=Oberhaus |first1=Daniel |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604060047/https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-launched-two-astronauts-changing-spaceflight-forever/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The International Space Station always has at least one Soyuz spacecraft docked at all times for use as an escape craft.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-26-fg-soyuz26-story.html |title=LA times, U.S.-Russian Crew Blasts Off to Space, By David Holley, 26 April 2003, Times Staff Writer |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=26 April 2003 |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226205018/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-26-fg-soyuz26-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Beyond the Saga of Rocket Science: In Space to Stay, By Walter Sierra, page 225-226, 2019</ref>

==Soyuz uncrewed flights==
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
# [[Kosmos 133]] - launch failure
# [[Kosmos 140]] - reentry damage
# [[Kosmos 186]]
# [[Kosmos 188]]
# [[Kosmos 212]]
# [[Kosmos 213]]
# [[Kosmos 238]]
# [[Soyuz 2]] - failed to dock
# [[Kosmos 379]]
# [[Kosmos 396]]
# [[Kosmos 434]]
# [[Kosmos 496]]
# [[Kosmos 573]]
# [[Kosmos 613]]
# [[Kosmos 638]]
# [[Kosmos 656]]
# [[Kosmos 670]]
# [[Kosmos 672]]
# [[Kosmos 772]] - partial fail
# [[Soyuz 20]]
# [[Kosmos 869]]
# [[Kosmos 1001]]
# [[Kosmos 1074]]
# [[Soyuz 34]]
# [[Soyuz T-1]]
# [[Soyuz TM-1]]
# [[Soyuz MS-14]]
# [[Soyuz  MS-23]]
{{Div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
Image:Soyuz TMA-3 launch.jpg|Soyuz TMA-3 launch
Image:Soyuz 19 (Apollo Soyuz Test Project) spacecraft.jpg|Soyuz 19 as seen from the [[Apollo spacecraft]] during [[Apollo–Soyuz Test Project]], July 1975
Image:Expedition 42 Soyuz TMA-14M Landing (201503120102HQ).jpg|[[Soyuz TMA-14M]] landing
Image:ISS-43 Soyuz TMA 16M approaches the ISS (a).jpg|[[Soyuz TMA-16M]] approaching the [[International Space Station|ISS]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Commons|Soyuz program}}
*[[Shenzhou spacecraft|Shenzhou]], a Chinese spacecraft influenced by Soyuz
*[[Space Shuttle]]
*[[Buran (spacecraft)]]
*[[List of spaceflight-related accidents and incidents]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Soyuz}}
{{Soyuz variants}}
{{Russian human spaceflight programs}}
{{N1-L3}}
{{Russian space program}}

[[Category:Soyuz programme| ]]
[[Category:Human spaceflight programs]]
[[Category:Crewed space program of Russia]]
[[Category:Crewed space program of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Projects established in 1963]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in the Soviet Union]]