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Arianespace Spaceport’s Soyuz Mating Ritual — Very Carefully


Members of the Soyuz Consultation Committee inspect the no. 1 Soyuz’ assembled first and second stages during their May 11 visit to the Spaceport. At the left is the Block I third stage, which will be integrated in the next step of the launcher’s build-up.
[SatNews] The first Soyuz to be operated from the Spaceport as part of Arianespace’s growing launcher family is ready for its next integration phase, which will involve mating of the Block I third stage with the vehicle’s already-assembled first and second stages.

This activity is being performed in the Spaceport’s Soyuz Launcher Integration Building, which was constructed as part of the new launch base in French Guiana for this workhorse medium-lift Russian vehicle.  

In the first phase of the no. 1 Soyuz’ integration, its four strap-on boosters were clustered around the vehicle’s Block A core stage.  Each of the strap-on boosters is powered by an RD-107A engine, which has four combustion chambers and nozzles, and operates on liquid oxygen and kerosene. Three-axis flight control is provided by aerofins and movable vernier thrusters.

Soyuz’ central core second stage is equipped with one RD-108A engine that has four combustion chambers and nozzles, along with vernier thrusters. The core stage’s hammer-head shaped upper end accommodates the first stage boosters’ integration around it.    


The Fregat upper stage function model is viewed by members of the Soyuz Consultation Committee during their May 11 visit to the Spaceport’s new Launcher Integration Building. Being filmed at the right of the Fregat stage is Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall, while Roscosmos Director Anatoli Perminov is at the left.
For the next phase of the no. 1 Soyuz’ build-up at the Spaceport, the vehicle’s Block I third stage will be integrated to the core stage. This stage utilizes an RD-0124 engine that replaces the launcher’s previous standard third stage RD-0110 engine, significantly increasing the vehicle’s overall performance.

The third stage also carries the vehicle’s avionics. A control system with digital computer and inertial measurement unit are used to give the Soyuz improved navigation accuracy and control capability.

Soyuz launchers to be used from the Spaceport will be completed with the Fregat upper stage, which has been designed as an autonomous and flexible orbital vehicle. This flight-qualified stage extends the Soyuz launcher’s capability to provide access to a full range of orbits, including medium-Earth orbit, Sun-synchronous orbit, geostationary transfer orbit and Earth escape trajectories.

A Fregat functional model has been set up in the Spaceport’s Soyuz Launcher Integration Building, and will be used in rehearsals for the preparation of this upper stage.  

The Soyuz configuration to be operated by Arianespace from the Spaceport is named the Soyuz 2-1a, and also is known by the Soyuz ST-A designation.