Soyuz Facts

Fun Facts about the Soyuz Workhorse

  1. The Soviet (now Russian) Soyuz spacecraft and their launch vehicles (rockets) share the same name. 

  2. The Soyuz rockets have been launched into space since 1967 and are the longest-serving vehicles flown to space. They continue to take space explorers and cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS) today.  

  3. In 45 seconds, the Soyuz rocket reaches a speed of 1,640 kilometers (1,020 miles) per hour. After five minutes, the rocket reaches 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles) per hour. Finally, after about ten minutes, the rocket reaches orbital speed of about 28,800 kilometers (17,800 miles) per hour. 

  4. It typically takes about six hours to reach the ISS after launch; however, on October 14, 2020, the Russian Soyuz MS-17, carrying Expedition 64, broke the record by docking with the ISS in three hours and three minutes. 

  5. NASA paid $90.3 million to Roscosmos for a seat on the Soyuz MS-17. 

  6. Currently, three space agencies use the Soyuz for transportation to and from the ISS: the Russian Roscosmos, the United States’ NASA, and the European Space Agency (ESA). 

  7. Only three space travelers are transported in the Soyuz spacecraft at one time. 

  8. The Soyuz spacecraft consists of three modules: the service, the orbital, and the reentry (or descent) modules. The service module contains the main engines, oxygen, propellant, electronic and navigation systems. It also holds telecommunications and altitude control equipment and the coupling of the solar panels. The orbital module acts as a cargo hold and living quarters, complete with a toilet. Astronauts travel in the descent module. It is protected with a thermal shield and holds parachutes and rocket engines to slow the descent and soften the landing. 

  9. The descent module is the only section of the Soyuz spacecraft that reenters the Earth’s atmosphere at the end of the mission. 

  10. Neither the Soyuz spacecraft nor the launcher are reusable.