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