Roscosmos Soyuz 2

Roscosmos Soyuz-2 is an active Russian medium-lift expendable launch vehicle family built by RKTs Progress. It is used with Fregat or Volga upper stages for LEO, MEO, high-elliptical, SSO, GTO, and geostationary missions.^[1]

The family includes Soyuz-2.1a and Soyuz-2.1b; 2.1b adds a higher-performance third-stage engine and support for larger fairings.^[1] Roscosmos provides Russian Soyuz-2 launch services, and RKTs Progress is the vehicle manufacturer and developer.^[1][2]

Published Phase 1B lift capability reaches 8,320 kg to a 200 km, 51.7 degree orbit from Vostochny and about 8,200 kg to a 200 km, 51.8 degree orbit from Baikonur.^[1] For sun-synchronous reference missions, listed capability is 6,950 kg to 200 km at 98.0 degrees from Vostochny and 6,900 kg to 200 km at 98.3 degrees from Plesetsk.^[1]

Soyuz-2.1a first test launched on 2004-11-08, Soyuz-2.1a commercial service began in 2006, and Soyuz-2.1b flight testing began on 2006-12-27. The family remained operational in 2026.^[1][3]