Soyuz-2-1a

Soyuz-2-1b

Soyuz operations in 2020

The Soyuz rocket family

The Soyuz rockets and its direct predessors were responsible for numerous space firsts, including the first satellite, the first man in space, first soft landing on the Moon and many others. Ironically, the oldest serving launch vehicle family descended from the first Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile — the R-7 — which became obsolete as a weapon practically immediately after it began flying in 1957.

The Soyuz rocket family as of 2002.

The development of the first Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile in the mid-1950s centered at the OKB-1 design bureau in the town of Podlipki (now Korolev) near Moscow. The bureau's experimental production plant, then known as Zavod No. 88 assembled the initial R-7 rockets for flight tests, but its industrial capacity was inadequate for mass production. (INSIDER CONTENT) The obvious solution at the time was to look at the aviation industry, whose existing capacity for the production of strategic bombers was expected to be made obsolete by emerging long-range rockets.

Space launch vehicles derived from the R-7 ICBM:

The Soyuz, the most recognizable Russian rocket, is only one of several space boosters, which derived from the R-7 ballistic missile developed in the mid-1950s.

Overview of upper stages in the Soyuz family of rockets:

Coordinate system for the Soyuz family of rockets. Credit: Starsem

History of Soyuz rocket operations and development in the 21st century:

Soyuz rocket history in 2001

Soyuz rocket history in 2002

Soyuz rocket history in 2003

Soyuz rocket history in 2004

Soyuz rocket history in 2005

Soyuz rocket history in 2006

Soyuz rocket history in 2007

Soyuz rocket history in 2008

Soyuz rocket history in 2009

Soyuz rocket history in 2010

Soyuz rocket history in 2011

Soyuz rocket history in 2012

Soyuz rocket history in 2013

Soyuz rocket history in 2014

Soyuz rocket history in 2015

Soyuz rocket history in 2016

Soyuz rocket history in 2017

Soyuz rocket history in 2018

Soyuz rocket history in 2019

Soyuz rocket history in 2020

Soyuz rocket history in 2021

Soyuz rocket history in 2022

Soyuz rocket history in 2023

Soyuz rocket history in 2024

Soyuz rocket history in 2025

Soyuz rocket history in 2026

This page is maintained by Anatoly Zak

Last update: August 27, 2026

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The rollout of the Soyuz rocket. Copyright: © 2001 Anatoly Zak

The Soyuz rocket blasts off from Launch Complex 5. Copyright: © 2001 Anatoly Zak

An R-7-based rocket lifts off with an early lunar probe circa 1959. Credit: Roskosmos

The launch vehicle with the Voskhod spacecraft on the launch pad in Area 1 in 1964. Credit: RKK Energia

A still from unidentified footage showing a liftoff of a rocket in the Soyuz family from Tyuratam. Credit: Roskosmos

The 11A511 version of the Soyuz rocket with the original escape system. Click to enlarge. Credit: 152

The 11A511 version of the Soyuz rocket with the upgraded escape system. Credit: 152

On a foggy morning in October 2000, the Soyuz booster was being prepared for the launch of the first resident crew of the International Space Station, more than 43 years after the original version of the rocket flew. Click to enlarge Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak

The Soyuz-Fregat version of the Soyuz launch vehicle is being prepared in Baikonur. Copyright © 2000 Anatoly Zak

Four strap-on boosters and a central core stage of the R-7 rocket. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

The assembly of the second and third stages of the Soyuz launcher. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

A third stage of the Soyuz rocket. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

A close up view of the core-stage engine on the Soyuz rocket. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak

The RD-0109 engine, which powered the 3rd stage of the Vostok rocket. Copyright © 2002 Anatoly Zak