Editing Soyuz launchers

[[Image:Building station.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Soyuz TMA and Progress in flight]]
{{Addon|
1=[http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.cfm?ID=682 Soyuz Launchers (CVEL) at orbithangar.com]|
2=David 'dh219' Henderson
}}

This [[add-on]] includes two versions of the workhorse of the Russian spaceflight history: The '''Soyuz-FG''' and the '''Soyuz-U'''. Both launchers are built around the [[CVEL|CVE-lite]] framework, allowing them to accept complex payload definitions. 

==CVEL Semyorka==

[[Image:Soyuz wip4.jpg|left|100px]] The CVEL Soyuz is about to get upgraded soon, turning the addon from the pure soyuz-FG version to the complete family of semyorka based launchers.

<gallery>
Image:Soyuz wip5.jpg|Rendering from below
Image:Soyuz blocke wip.jpg|Early rendering of the Blok E
Image:Soyuz wip6e.jpg|The new engine section
Image:Soyuz wip7.jpg|[[Anim8or]] rendering from above
</gallery>

==The original launcher==
The Soyuz launcher is a 280 ton, two-and-a-half-stage rocket, able to carry about 7 metric tons to LEO. The Soyuz-U is the launcher for both [[Progress]] transports and [[Soyuz TMA]] space station ferries. It currently launches from [[Baikonur]] and [[Pletesk]]. A Soyuz launch pad is being constructed on [[Kourou]] currently to allow a higher GTO performance and European manned missions. 

The Soyuz launcher is a good example of a proven and evolved launch system. The boosters and the first stage had already been used for launching [[Sputnik]], the world's first satellite in 1957. Until today the launcher only saw tiny modifications. 

===Technology===
The Soyuz is quite different to other launchers, a fact which comes from its long history. The first stage engine system shares many similarities to the A4 rocket, as it uses hydrogen peroxide for driving the turbopumps. The launcher hangs free over its launch pad, held by four arms right above the boosters. As it was not known in 1963 how to ignite a stage during ballistic flight, the second stage gets ignited [[hot staging|hot]] (while it is still attached to the first stage). 

The launcher does not have a roll program, it gets rotated together with its launch pad to the correct [[launch azimuth]]. 



===Glossary===
*Blok A - the first stage of the launcher (The stages of Russian launchers get their names from the Cyrillic alphabet)
*Blok B - One of the booster stages
*Blok W - One of the booster stages
*Blok G - One of the booster stages
*Blok D - One of the booster stages
*Blok I - the second stage of the launcher
*Skirt 3 - The protective cover around the second stage engines, gets jettisoned after ignition.

==How to fly==
The '''Soyuz launchers''' do not come with an [[autopilot]]. For launching, just apply full thrust and fly it into [[orbit]]. Its recommended to use [[Surface MFD]] and [[Align Plane MFD]] until second stage operation. Replace Align Plane MFD with [[Orbit MFD]] for final orbit insertion. Aim for a 220 x 250 km orbit. 


== Recommended add-ons == 
* [http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=orbmisc&DLID=30216 Baikonur Launch Complex]
* [http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/projectganymede/SoyuzTMA0_6.zip?download Soyuz TMA 0.6]
* [http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/projectganymede/Progress0_2.zip?download Progress 0.2]

[[Category: Articles]]
[[Category:Add-ons]]
[[Category:Vessel add-ons]]
[[Category:Rockets]]
[[Category:CVEL Vessels]]
[[category:Realistic add-ons]]
[[Category:Add-ons by David Henderson]]