The workhorse of the Soviet space program. The Soyuz U merges the earlier variants into one standard rocket and flies from 1973 to 2017, launching crews, Progress cargo ships and a long run of film-return reconnaissance satellites. For decades it is the most launched rocket version in history.
- Launches
- 714
- Success rate
- 97%
- 20 failures · 1 partial
- Builder
- Progress RSC
- Height
- 51.1 m
- Diameter
- 3 m
- Stages
- 2
- Boosters
- 4 × Blok BVGD
- Propellants
- Kerosene / LOX
- Payload to LEO
- 6,900 kg
Launches per year
Soyuz U
Other Soyuz rockets
Show as table
| Year | Launches | Soyuz U |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3 | 0 |
| 1967 | 4 | 0 |
| 1968 | 5 | 0 |
| 1969 | 5 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 0 |
| 1973 | 9 | 3 |
| 1974 | 15 | 10 |
| 1975 | 13 | 10 |
| 1976 | 27 | 24 |
| 1977 | 39 | 39 |
| 1978 | 45 | 45 |
| 1979 | 47 | 47 |
| 1980 | 45 | 45 |
| 1981 | 42 | 42 |
| 1982 | 45 | 44 |
| 1983 | 43 | 42 |
| 1984 | 44 | 38 |
| 1985 | 40 | 37 |
| 1986 | 37 | 33 |
| 1987 | 44 | 34 |
| 1988 | 45 | 34 |
| 1989 | 38 | 27 |
| 1990 | 32 | 18 |
| 1991 | 24 | 9 |
| 1992 | 24 | 12 |
| 1993 | 17 | 7 |
| 1994 | 15 | 8 |
| 1995 | 12 | 8 |
| 1996 | 9 | 7 |
| 1997 | 10 | 9 |
| 1998 | 8 | 5 |
| 1999 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000 | 13 | 7 |
| 2001 | 9 | 6 |
| 2002 | 7 | 3 |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 |
| 2004 | 7 | 4 |
| 2005 | 11 | 4 |
| 2006 | 11 | 3 |
| 2007 | 11 | 4 |
| 2008 | 9 | 4 |
| 2009 | 13 | 5 |
| 2010 | 12 | 6 |
| 2011 | 19 | 6 |
| 2012 | 14 | 5 |
| 2013 | 16 | 4 |
| 2014 | 22 | 4 |
| 2015 | 17 | 3 |
| 2016 | 14 | 2 |
| 2017 | 15 | 1 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 |
| 2019 | 18 | 0 |
| 2020 | 15 | 0 |
| 2021 | 22 | 0 |
| 2022 | 19 | 0 |
| 2023 | 17 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| 2026 | 11 | 0 |
Soyuz rockets
| Rocket | Flown | Launches | Success rate | Height | Payload to LEO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soyuz 11A510 | 1965 to 1966 | 2 | 100% | 37.9 m | 4,500 kg |
| Soyuz 11A511 | 1966 to 1976 | 32 | 94% | 50.7 m | 6,450 kg |
| Soyuz 11A511L | 1970 to 1971 | 3 | 100% | 50 m | 5,500 kg |
| Soyuz 11A511M | 1971 to 1976 | 8 | 100% | 50 m | 6,600 kg |
| Soyuz U | 1973 to 2017 | 714 | 97% | 51.1 m | 6,900 kg |
| Soyuz-U2 | 1982 to 1995 | 71 | 100% | 50.7 m | 7,050 kg |
| Soyuz-U-PVB | 1984 to 2009 | 70 | 97% | 51 m | 6,900 kg |
| Soyuz-U/Fregat | 2000 | 4 | 100% | 42.5 m | 7,100 kg |
| Soyuz FG | 2001 to 2019 | 60 | 98% | 49.5 m | 6,450 kg |
| Soyuz-FG Fregat | 2003 to 2012 | 10 | 100% | 42.5 m | 7,100 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1a Fregat | 2006 to 2009 | 3 | 67% | 46.2 m | 7,600 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1b Fregat | 2006 to 2026 | 26 | 92% | 46.3 m | 8,200 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1b | 2008 to 2026 | 25 | 100% | 46.3 m | 8,200 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M | 2010 to 2026 | 20 | 95% | 46.3 m | 7,020 kg |
| Soyuz STB Fregat | 2011 to 2022 | 13 | 92% | 46.3 m | 8,200 kg |
| Soyuz STA Fregat | 2011 to 2020 | 9 | 100% | 46.3 m | 7,020 kg |
| Soyuz STB Fregat-MT | 2012 to 2018 | 5 | 100% | 46.3 m | 8,200 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1a | 2013 to 2026 | 57 | 98% | 46.3 m | 7,020 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1v Volga | 2013 to 2025 | 8 | 88% | 44 m | 2,850 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1a Volga | 2016 | 1 | 100% | 46.2 m | 7,600 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1b Fregat-M | 2017 to 2026 | 36 | 97% | 46.3 m | 8,200 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1v | 2018 to 2024 | 5 | 100% | 44 m | 2,850 kg |
| Soyuz 2.1b Volga | 2026 | 1 | 100% | 46.3 m | 7,600 kg |