# Soyuz 2

> Soviet spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q619816](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q619816)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-2-q619816

## Summary

Soyuz 2 is an uncrewed spaceflight.[1]

## Summary  
Soyuz 2 was an uncrewed Soviet spacecraft launched in 1968 as part of the Soyuz programme. It tested the Soyuz 7K-OK design in low Earth orbit ahead of crewed missions.

## Key Facts  
- Launched on October 25, 1968, from Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Soyuz rocket  
- Part of the Soyuz programme and classified as an uncrewed spaceflight  
- Mass at takeoff: 6,450 kilograms  
- Orbited Earth with an apoapsis of 229 km and a periapsis of 191 km  
- Orbital period: approximately 88.6 minutes; inclination: 51.70 degrees  
- Landed in Kazakhstan on October 28, 1968  
- Followed by the crewed Soyuz 3 mission  
- COSPAR ID: 1968-093A; SCN: 03511  

## FAQs  
### Q: Was Soyuz 2 a crewed mission?  
A: No, Soyuz 2 was an uncrewed test flight designed to validate systems before crewed flights.  

### Q: When was Soyuz 2 launched and when did it land?  
A: Soyuz 2 was launched on October 25, 1968, and landed three days later on October 28, 1968.  

### Q: What was the purpose of the Soyuz 2 mission?  
A: The mission served as a test of the Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft design in preparation for upcoming crewed missions.  

## Why It Matters  
Soyuz 2 played a critical role in advancing the Soviet Union’s human spaceflight capabilities during the Space Race. As an uncrewed precursor to crewed flights, it validated key technologies such as orbital mechanics, thermal control, and re-entry procedures. Its success paved the way for Soyuz 3, which carried cosmonauts into space. The mission demonstrated the reliability of the Soyuz spacecraft architecture, which remains in use today for International Space Station operations. Soyuz 2 represents a pivotal step in the evolution of one of history’s most enduring space vehicle designs.

## Notable For  
- Being an early uncrewed test in the Soyuz programme  
- Validating the Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft prior to human spaceflight  
- Launching just months after the tragic Soyuz 1 accident, signaling continued Soviet commitment to space exploration  
- Testing critical systems under real orbital conditions  
- Contributing to the eventual success of long-term human presence in space  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
Soyuz 2 was an uncrewed mission within the broader Soyuz programme, aimed at testing the Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft. It was launched on October 25, 1968, and concluded with a landing in Kazakhstan on October 28, 1968.

### Technical Specifications  
The spacecraft had a total mass of 6,450 kg at takeoff and operated in low Earth orbit. Its orbital parameters included:
- Apoapsis: 229 km  
- Periapsis: 191 km  
- Inclination: 51.70°  
- Orbital period: 88.6 minutes  

It was launched atop a Soyuz rocket from Gagarin's Start at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

### Programmatic Context  
Soyuz 2 was part of the first-generation Soyuz spacecraft series and directly preceded the crewed Soyuz 3 mission. It contributed essential engineering data that helped restore confidence in the Soyuz programme following the loss of Soyuz 1 earlier in 1968.

### Legacy  
Though uncrewed, Soyuz 2 was instrumental in ensuring the safety and functionality of future missions. Its successful flight confirmed the viability of the Soyuz design, which continues to serve as Russia's primary crew transportation system.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz 2",
  "description": "Soviet uncrewed spacecraft launched in 1968 as part of the Soyuz programme.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2119698",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_2"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Uncrewed spaceflight"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013