61-632: Soyuz MS-16 was a Soyuz spaceflight launched on 9 April 2020, which transported three members of the Expedition 62 / 63 crew to the International Space Station . This flight was the first crewed launch using the Soyuz 2.1a launch vehicle, and the first crewed Russian mission not to launch from Gagarin's Start (which began modernization renovations after Soyuz MS-15 ) since Soyuz MS-02 in 2016. This flight would have marked
122-426: A fairing with a launch escape system during liftoff. The first Soyuz mission, Kosmos 133 , launched unmanned on 28 November 1966. The first crewed Soyuz mission, Soyuz 1 , launched on 23 April 1967 but ended tragically on 24 April 1967 when the parachute failed to deploy on reentry, killing cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov . The following flight, Soyuz 2 was uncrewed. Soyuz 3 launched on 26 October 1968 and became
183-406: A later spacecraft, a capability which Soyuz does not possess, since the only hatch between the orbital and reentry modules is a part of the reentry module, and orbital module is depressurized after separation. For future missions, the orbital module(s) could also be left behind on the planned Chinese project 921/2 space station as additional station modules. In the uncrewed test flights launched,
244-589: A legacy built upon its unparalleled operational history. The spacecraft has served as the primary mode of transport for cosmonauts to and from the Salyut space stations , the Mir space station, and International Space Station (ISS). Soyuz spacecraft are composed of three primary sections (from top to bottom, when standing on the launch pad): The orbital and service modules are discarded and destroyed upon reentry . This design choice, while seemingly wasteful, reduces
305-504: A pressurized container shaped like a bulging can (instrumentation compartment, priborniy otsek ) that contains systems for temperature control, electric power supply, long-range radio communications , radio telemetry , and instruments for orientation and control. A non-pressurized part of the service module (propulsion compartment, agregatniy otsek ) contains the main engine and a liquid-fuelled propulsion system , using N 2 O 4 and UDMH , for maneuvering in orbit and initiating
366-464: A revised Igla rendezvous system and new translation/attitude thruster system on the Service module. It could carry a crew of three, now wearing spacesuits. The Soyuz-TM crew transports (M: Russian : модифицированный , romanized : modifitsirovannyi , lit. 'modified') were fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft, and were used from 1986 to 2002 for ferry flights to Mir and
427-425: A small window was introduced, providing the crew with a forward view. A hatch between it and the descent module can be closed so as to isolate it to act as an airlock if needed so that crew members could also exit through its side port (near the descent module). On the launch pad, the crew enter the spacecraft through this port. This separation also lets the orbital module be customized to the mission with less risk to
488-439: A strap-on booster, low engine thrust, loss of combustion-chamber pressure, or loss of booster guidance. The spacecraft abort system (SAS; Russian : Система Аварийного Спасения , romanized : Sistema Avarijnogo Spaseniya ) could also be manually activated from the ground, but unlike American spacecraft, there was no way for the cosmonauts to trigger it themselves. Since it turned out to be almost impossible to separate
549-673: A two module configuration similar to spacecraft like Apollo and Dragon . The literal meaning of the native name 神舟 ( p : Shénzhōu; / ˈ ʃ ɛ n ˈ dʒ oʊ / ) is "the Divine vessel [on the Heavenly River]", to which Heavenly River ( 天河 ) means the Milky Way in Classical Chinese . 神舟 is a pun and neologism that plays on the poetic word referring to China , 神州 , meaning Divine realm , which bears
610-524: A two-man craft Soyuz 7K would rendezvous with other components (9K and 11K) in Earth orbit to assemble a lunar excursion vehicle, the components being delivered by the proven R-7 rocket . The crewed Soyuz spacecraft can be classified into design generations. Soyuz 1 through Soyuz 11 (1967–1971) were first-generation vehicles, carrying a crew of up to three without spacesuits and distinguished from those following by their bent solar panels and their use of
671-436: Is a Chinese spacecraft developed for the nation's crewed space program . Its design was based on Russia's Soyuz , but larger and modernized, Shenzhou is a single-use vehicle composed of three modules. The descent module houses the crew during launch and reentry. The orbital module provides additional living space and storage during orbit but is jettisoned before reentry. The service module, responsible for propulsion and power,
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#1732779817435732-529: Is a compromise between maximizing living space and allowing for some aerodynamic control upon reentry. The aft service module ( Chinese : 推进舱) ; pinyin : Tuījìn cāng ) contains life support and other equipment required for the functioning of Shenzhou. Two pairs of solar panels , one pair on the service module and the other pair on the orbital module, have a total area of over 40 square metres (430 sq ft), indicating average electrical power over 1.5 kW ( Soyuz have 1.0 kW). Although
793-448: Is a part of the reentry module, and the orbital module therefore depressurizes after separation. Reentry firing is usually done on the "dawn" side of the Earth, so that the spacecraft can be seen by recovery helicopters as it descends in the evening twilight, illuminated by the Sun when it is above the shadow of the Earth. The Soyuz craft is designed to come down on land, usually somewhere in
854-738: Is a series of spacecraft which has been in service since the 1960s, having made more than 140 flights. It was designed for the Soviet space program by the Korolev Design Bureau (now Energia ). The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft and was originally built as part of the Soviet crewed lunar programs . It is launched atop the similarly named Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan . Following
915-406: Is a single-use spacecraft composed of three main sections. The descent module is where cosmonauts are seated for launch and reentry. The orbital module provides additional living space and storage during orbit but is jettisoned before reentry. The service module, responsible for propulsion and power, is also discarded prior to reentry. For added safety and aerodynamics, the spacecraft is encased within
976-404: Is also discarded prior to reentry. For added safety and aerodynamics, the spacecraft is encased within a fairing with a launch escape system during liftoff. Its maiden uncrewed flight, Shenzhou 1 , was on 19 November 1999, with the first crewed mission, Shenzhou 5 , taking flight on 15 October 2003. It is slated for replacement by the next-generation Mengzhou , currently in development, with
1037-411: Is also the first expendable vehicle to feature a digital control technology. Soyuz-TMA looks identical to a Soyuz-TM spacecraft on the outside, but interior differences allow it to accommodate taller occupants with new adjustable crew couches. The Soyuz TMA-M was an upgrade of the baseline Soyuz-TMA, using a new computer, digital interior displays, updated docking equipment, and the vehicle's total mass
1098-578: Is based on the principle of minimizing the amount of material to be returned to Earth. Anything placed in the orbital or service modules does not require heat shielding , increasing the space available in the spacecraft without increasing weight as much as it would if those modules were also able to withstand reentry . The orbital module ( Chinese : 轨道舱) ; pinyin : Guǐdào cāng ) contains space for experiments, crew-serviced or crew-operated equipment, and in-orbit habitation. Without docking systems, Shenzhou 1–6 carried different kinds of payload on
1159-419: Is jettisoned early in flight. Equipped with an automated docking system, the spacecraft can operate autonomously or under manual control. The Vostok spacecraft used an ejector seat to bail out the cosmonaut in the event of a low-altitude launch failure, as well as during reentry; however, it would probably have been ineffective in the first 20 seconds after liftoff, when the altitude would be too low for
1220-608: The Igla automatic docking navigation system, which required special radar antennas. This first generation encompassed the original Soyuz 7K-OK and the Soyuz 7K-OKS for docking with the Salyut 1 space station. The probe and drogue docking system permitted internal transfer of cosmonauts from the Soyuz to the station. The Soyuz 7K-L1 was designed to launch a crew from the Earth to circle
1281-412: The International Space Station (ISS). Soyuz TMA (A: Russian : антропометрический , romanized : antropometricheskii , lit. ' anthropometric ') features several changes to accommodate requirements requested by NASA in order to service the International Space Station (ISS), including more latitude in the height and weight of the crew and improved parachute systems. It
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#17327798174351342-536: The Moon , and was the primary hope for a Soviet circumlunar flight. It had several test flights in the Zond program from 1967–1970 ( Zond 4 to Zond 8 ), which produced multiple failures in the 7K-L1's reentry systems. The remaining 7K-L1s were scrapped. The Soyuz 7K-L3 was designed and developed in parallel to the Soyuz 7K-L1, but was also scrapped. Soyuz 1 was plagued with technical issues, and cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov
1403-578: The Shenzhou 5 mission. The spacecraft has since become the mainstay of the Chinese crewed space program , being used for both crewed and uncrewed missions . Shenzhou consists of three modules: a forward orbital module ( Chinese : 轨道舱) ; pinyin : Guǐdào cāng ), a reentry module ( Chinese : 返回舱) ; pinyin : Fǎnhuí cāng ) in the middle, and an aft service module ( Chinese : 推进舱) ; pinyin : Tuījìn cāng ). This division
1464-534: The Shenzhou spacecraft follows the same layout as the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, it is approximately 10% larger and heavier than Soyuz. It also has a bigger cylindrical orbital module and four propulsion engines. There is enough room to carry an inflatable raft in case of a splashdown , whereas Soyuz cosmonauts must jump into the water and swim. The commander sits in the center seat on both spacecraft. However,
1525-793: The Soviet Union's dissolution, Roscosmos , the Russian space agency, continued to develop and utilize the Soyuz. Between the Space Shuttle's 2011 retirement and the SpaceX Crew Dragon 's 2020 debut, Soyuz was the sole means of crewed transportation to and from the International Space Station, a role it continues to fulfill. The Soyuz design has also influenced other spacecraft, including China's Shenzhou and Russia's Progress cargo vehicle. The Soyuz
1586-776: The Soyuz spacecraft. Its maiden flight was in July 2016 with mission Soyuz MS-01 . Major changes include: The uncrewed Progress spacecraft are derived from Soyuz and are used for servicing space stations. While not being direct derivatives of Soyuz, the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft uses Soyuz TM technology sold in 1984 and the Indian Orbital Vehicle follows the same general layout as that pioneered by Soyuz. Shenzhou (spacecraft) Shenzhou ( Chinese : 神舟 ; pinyin : Shénzhōu , / ˈ ʃ ɛ n ˈ dʒ oʊ / ; see § Etymology )
1647-506: The back-up crew. Tikhonov and Babkin were expected to fly on Soyuz MS-17 , scheduled for October 2020 when Tikhonov's eye injury was set to have had healed, although the two were not assigned to this mission. Tikhonov has since retired from roscosmos, while Babkin remains an active cosmonaut, but he has not yet been assigned to a future spaceflight. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the crew's families and media representatives could not watch
1708-461: The bottom consists of "21mm to 28mm thick ablator (glass-phenolic composite) which is held by brackets approximately 15mm from the 3.5mm thick aluminum AMg-6 substrate. VIM low-density silica fibrous insulation (8mm thick) is contained in the gap between the heat shield ablator and aluminum substrate." At the back of the vehicle is the service module (Russian: прибо́рно-агрега́тный отсе́к , romanized : pribórno-agregátny otsék ). It has
1769-466: The connection between the service and reentry modules on the latter two flights. The Soyuz uses a method similar to the 1970s-era United States Apollo command and service module to deorbit itself. The spacecraft is turned engine-forward, and the main engine is fired for deorbiting on the far side of Earth ahead of its planned landing site. This requires the least propellant for reentry ; the spacecraft travels on an elliptical Hohmann transfer orbit to
1830-644: The descent back to Earth . The ship also has a system of low-thrust engines for orientation, attached to the intermediate compartment ( perekhodnoi otsek ). Outside the service module are the sensors for the orientation system and the solar array, which is oriented towards the Sun by rotating the ship. An incomplete separation between the service and reentry modules led to emergency situations during Soyuz 5 , Soyuz TMA-10 and Soyuz TMA-11 , which led to an incorrect reentry orientation (crew ingress hatch first). The failure of several explosive bolts did not cut
1891-400: The descent module is covered by a heat-resistant covering to protect it during reentry ; this half faces forward during reentry. It is slowed initially by the atmosphere, then by a braking parachute, followed by the main parachute, which slows the craft for landing. At one meter above the ground, solid-fuel braking engines mounted behind the heat shield are fired to give a soft landing. One of
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1952-532: The descent module led to it having only two-man crews after the death of the Soyuz ;11 crew. The later Soyuz-T spacecraft solved this issue. Internal volume of Soyuz SA is 4 m (140 cu ft); 2.5 m (88 cu ft) is usable for crew (living space). The thermal protection system on the slightly conical side walls is stood off from the structure to also provide micrometeoroid protection in orbit. The slightly curved heat shield on
2013-584: The deserts of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. This is in contrast to the early United States crewed spacecraft and the current SpaceX Crew Dragon, which splash down in the ocean. The Soyuz spacecraft has been the subject of continuous evolution since the early 1960s. Thus several different versions, proposals and projects exist. Sergei Korolev initially promoted the Soyuz A-B-V circumlunar complex ( 7K-9K-11K ) concept (also known as L1 ) in which
2074-475: The design requirements for the descent module was for it to have the highest possible volumetric efficiency (internal volume divided by hull area). The best shape for this is a sphere – as the pioneering Vostok spacecraft's descent module used – but such a shape can provide no lift, resulting in a purely ballistic reentry . Ballistic reentries are hard on the occupants due to high deceleration and cannot be steered beyond their initial deorbit burn. Thus it
2135-431: The docking collar needed to attach to Mir . The risk of not being able to separate the orbital module is effectively judged to be less than the risk of needing the facilities in it, including the toilet, following a failed deorbit. The descent module (Russian: Спуска́емый Аппара́т , romanized : spuskáyemy apparát ), also known as a reentry capsule, is used for launch and the journey back to Earth. Half of
2196-504: The entire payload shroud from the Soyuz service module cleanly, the decision was made to have the shroud split between the service module and descent module during an abort. Four folding stabilizers were added to improve aerodynamic stability during ascent. Two test runs of the SAS were carried out in 1966–1967. The basic design of the SAS has remained almost unchanged in 50 years of use, and all Soyuz launches carry it. The only modification
2257-411: The entry interface point, where atmospheric drag slows it enough to fall out of orbit. Early Soyuz spacecraft would then have the service and orbital modules detach simultaneously from the descent module. As they are connected by tubing and electrical cables to the descent module, this would aid in their separation and avoid having the descent module alter its orientation. Later Soyuz spacecraft detached
2318-483: The first spaceflight for rookie cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov , who has been removed from several ISS flights due to delays to the Russian Nauka laboratory module starting with Soyuz MS-04 . Tikhonov and Babkin were replaced by their backups, Ivanishin and Vagner, for medical reasons. Tikhonov, the original Soyuz commander, suffered an eye injury, and Russian officials opted to swap both Russian crew members with
2379-602: The late 1980s. This guaranteed that the descent module and orbital module would be separated before the descent module was placed in a reentry trajectory. However, after the problematic landing of Soyuz TM-5 in September 1988 this procedure was changed, and the orbital module is now separated after the return maneuver. This change was made as the TM-5 crew could not deorbit for 24 hours after they jettisoned their orbital module, which contained their sanitation facilities and
2440-466: The launch in Baikonur, and the usual pre-launch traditions dating back to Yuri Gagarin 's flight on Vostok 1 were canceled. Soyuz MS-16 was launched on 9 April 2020 at 08:05:06 UTC. The Soyuz 2.1a booster's first and core stage engines ignited on time and lifted the rocket away from its firing stand at the Baikonur Cosmodrome , with cosmonaut Anatoli Ivanishin , joined by the rookie Ivan Vagner on
2501-525: The launch site about three minutes before the launch and the booster climbed directly into the plane of its orbit. Six orbits after that, at 14:13:18 UTC, the Soyuz docked at the Poisk docking compartment . The Soyuz capsule undocked from the International Space Station at approximately 23:32:00 UTC and landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan at 02:54:12 UTC. Soyuz (spacecraft) Soyuz (Russian: Союз , IPA: [sɐˈjus] , lit. 'Union')
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2562-464: The left and astronaut Chris Cassidy on the right. Like Ivanishin, Cassidy is making his third space flight. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted congratulations: "Chris Cassidy, Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner are safely in orbit, no virus is stronger than the human desire to explore. I'm grateful to the entire @NASA and @roscosmos teams for their dedication to making this launch a success". The International Space Station passed directly over
2623-409: The life-critical descent module. The convention of orientation in a micro-g environment differs from that of the descent module, as crew members stand or sit with their heads to the docking port. Also the rescue of the crew whilst on the launch pad or with the SAS system is complicated because of the orbital module. Separation of the orbital module is critical for a safe landing; without separation of
2684-419: The orbital module before firing the main engine, which saved propellant. Since the Soyuz TM-5 landing issue, the orbital module is once again detached only after the reentry firing, which led to (but did not cause) emergency situations of Soyuz TMA-10 and TMA-11 . The orbital module cannot remain in orbit as an addition to a space station, as the airlock hatch between the orbital and reentry modules
2745-445: The orbital module of each Shenzhou was left functioning on orbit for several days after the reentry modules return, and the Shenzhou 5 orbital module continued to operate for six months after launch. The reentry module ( Chinese : 返回舱) ; pinyin : Fǎnhuí cāng ) is located in the middle section of the spacecraft and contains seating for the crew. It is the only portion of Shenzhou which returns to Earth's surface. Its shape
2806-422: The orbital module, it is not possible for the crew to survive landing in the descent module. This is because the orbital module would interfere with proper deployment of the descent module's parachutes, and the extra mass exceeds the capability of the main parachute and braking engines to provide a safe soft-landing speed. In view of this, the orbital module was separated before the ignition of the return engine until
2867-515: The parachute to deploy. Inspired by the Mercury LES, Soviet designers began work on a similar system in 1962. This included developing a complex sensing system to monitor various launch-vehicle parameters and trigger an abort if a booster malfunction occurred. Based on data from R-7 launches over the years, engineers developed a list of the most likely failure modes for the vehicle and could narrow down abort conditions to premature separation of
2928-500: The program's first successful crewed mission.The program suffered another fatal setback during Soyuz 11 , where cabin depressurization during reentry killed the entire crew. These are the only humans to date who are known to have died above the Kármán line , the conventional definition of the edge of space. Despite these early tragedies, Soyuz has earned a reputation as one of the safest and most cost-effective human spaceflight vehicles,
2989-406: The same pronunciation. For further information, refer to Chinese theology , Chinese astronomy and names of China . China's first efforts at human spaceflight started in 1968 with a projected launch date of 1973. Although China successfully launched an uncrewed satellite in 1970, its crewed spacecraft program was cancelled in 1980 due to a lack of funds. The Chinese crewed spacecraft program
3050-418: The solar panels's place. It was developed out of the military Soyuz concepts studied in previous years and was capable of carrying 2 cosmonauts with Sokol space suits (after the Soyuz 11 accident). Several models were planned, but none actually flew in space. These versions were named Soyuz P , Soyuz PPK , Soyuz R , Soyuz 7K-VI , and Soyuz OIS (Orbital Research Station). The Soyuz 7K-T/A9 version
3111-467: The spacecraft is the orbital module (Russian: бытовой отсек , romanized: bytovoi otsek ), also known as habitation section. It houses all the equipment that will not be needed for reentry, such as experiments, cameras or cargo. The module also contains a toilet, docking avionics and communications gear. Internal volume is 6 m (210 cu ft), living space is 5 m (180 cu ft). On later Soyuz versions (since Soyuz TM),
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#17327798174353172-520: The spacecraft's weight by minimizing the amount of heat shielding required. As a result, Soyuz offers more habitable interior space (7.5 cubic metres, 260 cubic feet) compared to its Apollo counterpart (6.3 m , 220 cu ft). While the reentry module does return to Earth, it is not reusable, a new Soyuz spacecraft must be made for every mission. Soyuz can carry up to three crew members and provide life support for about 30 person-days . A payload fairing protects Soyuz during launch and
3233-538: The top of their orbital modules for scientific experiments. The Chinese spacecraft docking mechanism (beginning with Shenzhou 8) is based on the Androgynous Peripheral Attach System (APAS). Up until Shenzhou 8, the orbital module of the Shenzhou was equipped with its own propulsion , solar power , and control systems , allowing autonomous flight. It is possible for Shenzhou to leave an orbital module in orbit for redocking with
3294-472: Was Qi Faren (( Chinese : 戚发轫 ), 26 April 1933), and from Shenzhou-6 on, the general design was turned over to Zhang Bainan (( Chinese : 张柏楠 ), 23 June 1962). The first uncrewed flight of the spacecraft was launched on 19 November 1999, after which Project 921/1 was renamed Shenzhou , a name reportedly chosen by Jiang Zemin . A series of three additional uncrewed flights were carried out. The first crewed launch took place on 15 October 2003 with
3355-419: Was aborted after escape-tower jettison. In 1983, Soyuz T-10a's SAS successfully rescued the cosmonauts from an on-pad fire and explosion of the launch vehicle. Most recently, in 2018, the SAS sub-system in the payload shroud of Soyuz MS-10 successfully rescued the cosmonauts from a rocket failure 2 minutes and 45 seconds after liftoff, after the escape tower had already been jettisoned. The forepart of
3416-401: Was decided to go with the "headlight" shape that the Soyuz uses – a hemispherical upper area joined by a barely angled (seven degrees) conical section to a classic spherical section heat shield. This shape allows a small amount of lift to be generated due to the unequal weight distribution. The nickname was thought up at a time when nearly every headlight was circular. The small dimensions of
3477-521: Was in 1972, when the aerodynamic fairing over the SAS motor nozzles was removed for weight-saving reasons, as the redesigned Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft carried extra life-support equipment. The uncrewed Progress resupply ferry has a dummy escape tower and removes the stabilizer fins from the payload shroud. There have been three failed launches of a crewed Soyuz vehicle: Soyuz 18a in 1975, Soyuz T-10a in 1983 and Soyuz MS-10 in October 2018. The 1975 failure
3538-646: Was killed when the spacecraft crashed during its return to Earth. This was the first in-flight fatality in the history of spaceflight . The next crewed version of the Soyuz was the Soyuz 7K-OKS . It was designed for space station flights and had a docking port that allowed internal transfer between spacecraft. The Soyuz 7K-OKS had two crewed flights, both in 1971. Soyuz 11 , the second flight, depressurized upon reentry, killing its three-man crew. The second generation, called Soyuz Ferry or Soyuz 7K-T , comprised Soyuz 12 through Soyuz 40 (1973–1981). It did not have solar arrays. Two long, skinny antennas were put in
3599-480: Was reduced by 70 kilograms. The new version debuted on 7 October 2010 with the launch of Soyuz TMA-01M , carrying the ISS Expedition 25 crew. The Soyuz TMA-08M mission set a new record for the fastest crewed docking with a space station. The mission used a new six-hour rendezvous, faster than the previous Soyuz launches, which had, since 1986, taken two days. Soyuz MS is the final planned upgrade of
3660-433: Was relaunched in 1992 with Project 921 . The Phase One spacecraft followed the general layout of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, with three modules that could separate for reentry. China signed a deal with Russia in 1995 for the transfer of Soyuz technology, including life support and docking systems. The Phase One spacecraft was then modified with the new Russian technology. The general designer of Shenzhou-1 through Shenzhou-5
3721-752: Was used for the flights to the military Almaz space station. Soyuz 7K-TM was the spacecraft used in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975, which saw the first and only docking of a Soyuz spacecraft with an Apollo command and service module . It was also flown in 1976 for the Earth-science mission, Soyuz 22 . Soyuz 7K-TM served as a technological bridge to the third generation. The third generation Soyuz-T (T: Russian : транспортный , romanized : transportnyi , lit. 'transport') spacecraft (1976–1986) featured solar panels again, allowing longer missions,
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