Soyuz-FG

Mission: A Russian Soyuz FG rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft into orbit for a same-day rendezvous with the International Space Station to bring the Expedition 55/56 crew to their orbital home and workplace for a half-year mission. Carrying an international crew trio from the U.S., Russia and Germany, the trusted Soyuz FG rocket will operate for nine minutes to deliver the spacecraft into a 200-Kilometer orbit from where it will maneuver up into the Station’s orbit of 400 Kilometers for a fully automated link-up. The 7,200-Kilogram Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft will remain docked to the Rassvet Module throughout the crew’s stay on ISS to act as life boat and return them to Earth at the end of their flight via parachute-assisted landing in Kazakhstan.

Rocket: The Soyuz-FG rocket belongs to the family of R-7 rockets and are constructed by TsSKB-Progress. It flew for the first time on May 20th, 2001. It measures 49.5 meters and a diameter of 2.95 meters. It can deliver up to 6900 Kg (15200 Ib) to LEO. This will be the 54 launch of this rocket.

Boosters: The Soyuz-FG rocket has 4 boosters that measure 19.6 meters high and 2.68 meters in diameter. They use RD-107A engines that produce 838.5 kN (188,500 lbf) at sea level. Each booster has 4 engines. They use RP-1 (kerosene) and LOX (liquid oxygen). They burn for approximately 118 seconds before detaching from the main body of the rocket.

First Stage: The first stage of the rocket measures 27.1 meters high and 2.95 meters in diameter. It uses four RD-108A engines that produce 792.48 kN (178,160 lbf) at sea level. They use RP-1 (kerosene) and LOX (liquid Oxygen). They burn for approximately 280 seconds before detaching from the second stage.

Second Stage: The second stage measures 6.7 meters high and 2.66 meters in diameter. It uses 4 RD-0110 engines that produce 297.93 kN (66,980 lbf) in the vacuum of space. It burns for approximately 230 seconds before deploying the payload/capsule or detaching from an optional third stage.

Third Stage: The third stage is an optional upper stage which is only used on the Fregat version of the rocket. It is 1.5 meters high and 3.35 meters in diameter. It uses S5.92 engines that produce 19.85 kN (4,460 lbf) in the vacuum of space. They use N₂O₄ (dinitrogen tetroxide) and UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine). It burns for up to 1100 seconds with a maximum number of engine firings of 20.

Capsule: The soyuz capsule is manufactured by RKK energia. It can carry up to 3 astronauts to the ISS and stay docked for up to 6 months. Its first unmanned launch was on November 28, 1966 and its first manned launch occurred on April 23,1967 (but it has been upgraded, and adapted for newer rockets and technology). It has 3 different sections (Orbital Module, Descent Module and Service Module). It lands on Earth after deploying 3 parachutes and having boosters fire for the last milliseconds before landing.