Soyuz (cohete) version
Soyuz (cohete) Soyuz-U2 (11A511U2)
A Soyuz-U burning Syntin, a higher-energy synthetic kerosene, instead of RP-1. It flew 72 times between 1982 and 1995 without a single failure, carrying crews and cargo to the Salyut 7 and Mir stations.
- December 23, 1982
- First launch
- No
- Reusable
History
A better kerosene
The Soyuz-U2 was physically the same rocket as the Soyuz-U except for its first-stage fuel: instead of RP-1 it burned Syntin, a higher-energy synthetic kerosene. The extra performance allowed heavier spacecraft to be launched, or lighter ones to be placed in higher orbits than the Soyuz-U could reach.
Service
Its first flights carried four Zenit reconnaissance satellites. It then became the launcher for crewed Soyuz T-12 to T-15 and Soyuz TM-1 to TM-22 missions to the Salyut 7 and Mir stations, and for the Progress freighters that supplied them. It flew 72 times between 23 December 1982 and 3 September 1995 without a failure.
Retirement
Retirement was announced in 1996: the performance gain from Syntin no longer justified its production cost.