Soyuz-M
Function | Carrier rocket |
---|---|
Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
Country of origin | Soviet Union |
Size | |
Height | 50 metres (160 ft) |
Diameter | 10.3 metres (34 ft) |
Mass | 300,000 kilograms (660,000 lb) |
Stages | Two |
Capacity | |
Payload to LEO | 6,600 kilograms (14,600 lb) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | R-7 (Soyuz) |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Launch sites | Plesetsk Sites 41/1 & 43/4 |
Total launches | 8[1] |
Successes | 8 |
First flight | 27 December 1971 |
Last flight | 31 March 1976 |
Notable payloads | Zenit-4MT |
The Soyuz-M (Russian: Союз, meaning "Union"), GRAU index 11A511M was a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed by OKB-1 and manufactured by State Aviation Plant No. 1 in Samara, Russia. It was originally built to launch manned Soyuz 7K-VI spacecraft for the Soviet armed forces. Following the cancellation of this programme, development of the rocket continued for the Soyuz 7K-S spacecraft. After this too was cancelled, Soyuz-M development was also abandoned, and the rockets that had been completed were used to launch reconnaissance satellites.
While the exact details of the Soyuz-M are not known, it is believed to be a two-stage rocket, derived from the Soyuz. It may have been similar to the later Soyuz-U.[2] Following the cancellation of the Soyuz 7K-S, eight were launched with Zenit-4MT spacecraft.[2] The first of these launches occurred on 27 December 1971, and the last on 31 March 1976. All launches occurred from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, six from pad 41/1 and two from pad 43/4.[1]