The Soyuz-2.1v represents a major departure from earlier Soyuz rockets. Unlike the Soyuz-2.1b upon which it is based, it does away with the four boosters used on all other R-7 vehicles. The first stage of the Soyuz-2.1v is a heavily modified derivative of the Soyuz-2 first stage, with a single-chamber NK-33 engine replacing the four-chamber RD-107 used on previous rockets along with structural modifications to the stage and lower tanking. Since the NK-33 is fixed, the RD-0110R engine is used to supply thrust vector control. It also supplies an extra of thrust and heats the pressurization gases. The NK-33 engine, originally built for the N1 programme, offers increased performance over the RD-107; however, only a limited number of engines are available. Once the supply is exhausted, the NK-33 will be replaced by the RD-193. In April 2013, it was announced that the RD-193 engine had completed testing. The RD-193 is a lighter and shorter engine based on the Angara's RD-191, which is itself a derivative of the Zenit's RD-170. The second stage of the Soyuz-2.1v is the same as the third stage of the Soyuz-2.1b; powered by an RD-0124 engine. For most missions a Volga upper stage will be used to manoeuvre the payload from an initial parking orbit to its final destination. The Volga is derived from the propulsion system of the Yantar reconnaissance satellite, and was developed as a lighter and cheaper alternative to the Fregat. The Soyuz-2.1v was designed as a light-class carrier rocket, and has a payload capacity of to a circular low Earth orbit with an inclination of 56.8° from Baikonur, and to a 200 kilometre orbit at 62.8° from Plesetsk.
Operational history
In 2009, the maiden flight of the Soyuz-2.1v was announced as being scheduled for 2010, with this later being delayed to 2011 and then 2012 by development delays and payload availability. By June 2011 it was scheduled to occur at the end of 2012. During a test firing of a first stage prototype in August 2012, a test stand software malfunction resulted in damage to the stand and prototype, delaying the static testing programme. The test was re-attempted in May 2013, and was declared successful despite the burn lasting 52 seconds shorter than had been expected. With this complete, the launch was scheduled for September 2013. It subsequently slipped to November and then December. The maiden flight – which made use of a Volga upper stage – carried the Aist 1 microsatellite and a pair of SKRL-756 calibration spheres. Ahead of the launch, the rocket was rolled out to Site 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on 18 December 2013 with the launch scheduled for 23 December. The launch was delayed beyond 23 December by problems found during late testing at the pad. An attempt to launch was made on 25 December, but it was scrubbed around ten minutes before the liftoff, which had been scheduled for 14:00 UTC. Despite reports that the launch could not take place before the end of the year, it was rescheduled for 10:30 UTC on 28 December. A further last-minute delay pushed the liftoff back to 12:30 UTC, at which time the launch took place successfully. Spacecraft separation occurred 100 minutes later, at 14:10 UTC. The second launch of the vehicle on December 5, 2015 carried two payloads Kanopus-ST and KYuA-1, while the Kanopus-ST failed to separate from the final stage. The third launch, which was an unannounced launch, carried a secret military payload on June 23, 2017 from Plesetsk. The fourth flight was on 29 March 2018 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The booster orbited an EMKA satellite, which was reportedly designed to test miniature Earth imaging technology. The fifth flight took place on 10 July 2019 carrying four military satellites, Kosmos-2535, Kosmos-2536, Kosmos-2537 and Kosmos-2538, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Flight number 6 took place on 25 November 2019 17:52 UTC from Plesetsk Site 43/4. It delivered the classified Kosmos 2542 satellite and Kosmos 2543sub satellite which detached from it for Ministry of Defence to Low Earth orbit. The flight used a Volga upper stage. The flight was successful.
