Today, on November 8, 2019, is a 15 years anniversary since the start of operation of the “Soyuz-2” launch vehicle of stage 1a.
During this time, 41 launch campaigns were performed from the cosmodromes Baikonur, Plesetsk and Vostochny, as well as from the Guiana Space Center.
The “Soyuz-2.1a” launch vehicle was developed and manufactured at the RSC “Progress”.
It is equipped with a new digital control system, common to all three stages, as well as a new digital radio telemetry measurement system.
The installation of a digital control system on the “Soyuz-2” launch vehicle increased the accuracy of launch, the stability and controllability of the launch vehicle, and allowed the use of large fairings.
“Soyuz-2.1a” in conjunction with the “Fregat” upper stage (produced by NPO “Lavochkin”) is designed to launch automatic spacecraft into low, medium, highly elliptical, solar-synchronous, geo-transitional and geostationary orbits.
Since 2011, launch vehicles have launched from the Guiana Space Center in South America.
Since 2014, the “Soyuz-2.1a” launch vehicle has been used to launch cargo ships of the “Progress M” and “Progress MS” type.
In April 2016, the launch of “Soyuz-2.1a” with the “Volga” launch unit (manufactured by Progress RSC) opened a new Russian space center “Vostochny”.
Since 2020, spacecrafts of the “Soyuz MS” type are planned to be launched by the “Soyuz-2.1a” launch vehicle.
