Improved Soyuz 2-1A Launcher Makes Its First Flight | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Fri, Nov 12, 2004

Improved Soyuz 2-1A Launcher Makes Its First Flight

Bigger Payload, More Flexibility

This week's successful maiden flight of an improved Soyuz vehicle marked an important milestone in the program to bring this Russian workhorse vehicle into Arianespace's commercial launcher family.

The Soyuz 2-1a version lifted off from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome on November 8, and carried a test payload. It used a digital flight control system with a high-speed onboard computer.

This new control system provides additional mission flexibility, and also will enable Soyuz to be equipped with a larger payload fairing for its future use in commercial Arianespace missions from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Arianespace Chief Executive Jean-Yves Le Gall congratulated the Russian Space Agency, the Samara Space Center (which develops and produces Soyuz) and all engineers and technicians who participated in the Soyuz 2-1a mission.

The Soyuz 2-1a maiden launch will be followed by the validation of further improvements to the Soyuz launcher, including a more powerful third stage that increases overall launch vehicle performance and provides the capability to carry heavier payloads. The flight of this Soyuz configuration -- designated Soyuz 2-1b -- is planned in 2006 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia.

Both new Soyuz versions will become part of Arianespace's expanded commercial launcher family operating from French Guiana - with an inaugural flight of the improved vehicle planned in 2007 from a new launch pad that currently is under construction at the Spaceport.

The Soyuz at French Guiana will become Arianespace's medium-class launch vehicle for commercial and governmental flights. By adding Soyuz to its family of launchers, Arianespace will be able to cost-effectively perform a full range of missions, meeting the company's goal of offering the capability to launch "any mass, to any orbit, any time." Soyuz will join the heavy-lift Ariane 5 and the lightweight Vega launcher (which is scheduled to begin service in 2007).

FMI: www.arianespace.com

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.11.25)

“Honored to accept this mission. Time to take over space. Let’s launch.” Source: SecTrans Sean Duffy commenting after President Donald Trump appointed U.S. Secret>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.11.25): Permanent Echo

Permanent Echo Radar signals reflected from fixed objects on the earth's surface; e.g., buildings, towers, terrain. Permanent echoes are distinguished from “ground clutter&rd>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.11.25)

Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Glider Encountered A Loss Of Lift And There Was Not Sufficient Altitude To Reach The Airport Analysis: The flight instructor reported that while turning final, the glider encounter>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Aeronca 7AC

Airplane Climbed To 100 Ft Above Ground Level, At Which Time The Airplane Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power On May 24, 2025, at 1300 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC