# Soyuz-U2

> carrier rocket

**Wikidata**: [Q5957052](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5957052)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz-U2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-u2

## Summary  
Soyuz‑U2 is a Soviet‑origin carrier rocket belonging to the Soyuz family. First launched on 23 December 1982, it was built by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center and measures 34.54 m in height and 2.95 m in diameter.

## Key Facts  
- **First flight:** 23 December 1982.  
- **Manufacturer:** Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center.  
- **Height:** 34.54 metres.  
- **Diameter:** 2.95 metres.  
- **Country of origin:** Soviet Union (later Russia).  
- **Subclass:** Soyuz (rocket family).  
- **Aliases:** ソユーズ‑U2, 11А511У2, 联盟‑U2运载火箭, among others.  
- **Wikidata description:** carrier rocket.  
- **Wikipedia title:** Soyuz‑U2 (English).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What type of vehicle is the Soyuz‑U2?  
A: The Soyuz‑U2 is a carrier rocket—a launch vehicle used to place satellites and spacecraft into orbit.  

### Q: When did the Soyuz‑U2 make its maiden flight?  
A: Its first launch occurred on 23 December 1982.  

### Q: Who manufactured the Soyuz‑U2?  
A: It was produced by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center in the Soviet Union.  

### Q: How large is the Soyuz‑U2?  
A: The rocket stands 34.54 metres tall and has a core diameter of 2.95 metres.  

### Q: Which rocket family does Soyuz‑U2 belong to?  
A: It is a subclass of the Soyuz family, a long‑standing series of Soviet and Russian launch vehicles.  

## Why It Matters  
Soyuz‑U2 represents a key evolution within the storied Soyuz launch family, which has underpinned the Soviet and later Russian space programs for decades. By delivering reliable payload capacity from a relatively compact design—34.54 m tall and 2.95 m in diameter—it enabled a range of scientific, military, and commercial missions during a critical period of Cold‑War space activity. Its production by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center reflects the centralized Soviet approach to aerospace engineering, consolidating expertise and resources to maintain a competitive edge in orbital launch capability. The rocket’s first flight in late 1982 marked the continuation of the Soyuz lineage’s reputation for robustness and versatility, reinforcing the Soviet Union’s ability to sustain a steady cadence of launches despite geopolitical pressures. As a bridge between earlier Soyuz variants and later modernized models, Soyuz‑U2 contributed to the technological continuity that has allowed the Soyuz family to remain one of the world’s most frequently used launch systems well into the 21st century.

## Notable For  
- **First launch in 1982**, extending the operational life of the Soyuz family.  
- **Built by Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center**, a principal Soviet rocket manufacturer.  
- **Compact yet powerful dimensions** (34.54 m height, 2.95 m diameter) suited for a variety of payloads.  
- **Operated under both Soviet Union and Russian authority**, reflecting the geopolitical transition of its era.  
- **Multiple aliases across languages**, indicating its widespread recognition in international aerospace literature.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Soyuz‑U2 is a carrier rocket—a launch vehicle designed to deliver payloads such as satellites, scientific instruments, or spacecraft into orbit. It is classified as a subclass of the broader Soyuz family, which has been a cornerstone of Soviet and Russian space launch capability since the 1960s.

### Technical Specifications  
- **Height:** 34.54 m  
- **Diameter:** 2.95 m  
- **GRAU index:** 11А511У2  
- **Country of origin:** Soviet Union, later Russia  
- **Manufacturer:** Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center  

These dimensions place Soyuz‑U2 among the medium‑lift launch vehicles, balancing payload capacity with a relatively modest size compared with heavy‑lift rockets.

### Development and Manufacture  
The rocket was developed and produced by the Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center, a key Soviet aerospace enterprise responsible for many of the nation’s launch vehicles. Its design leveraged existing Soyuz technology while incorporating improvements to propulsion and avionics, ensuring compatibility with a range of mission profiles.

### Operational History  
- **First flight:** 23 December 1982.  
Subsequent launches (not detailed in the source) would have employed the Soyuz‑U2 for a variety of Soviet and later Russian missions, benefitting from the rocket’s proven reliability and the manufacturing expertise of Progress.

### Relationship to the Soyuz Family  
Soyuz‑U2 inherits the modular architecture of the Soyuz series, allowing for interchangeability of stages and components. This commonality simplifies logistics, training, and maintenance across the fleet, reinforcing the Soyuz family’s reputation for cost‑effective, repeatable launch operations.

### Legacy  
Although specific retirement data is not provided, Soyuz‑U2’s role in extending the Soyuz lineage underscores its importance. The rocket’s design principles continue to influence modern Soyuz variants, contributing to the enduring success of one of the world’s most prolific launch families.

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Soyuz-U2",
  "description": "Soyuz-U2 is a Soviet-era carrier rocket, part of the Soyuz family, first launched on 23 December 1982.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz-U2"
  ],
  "additionalType": "CarrierRocket"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013