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Big Soyuz
Part of Zarya
Big Soyuz
Big Soyuz
Credit: © Mark Wade
Russian manned spacecraft. Study 2008. This enlarged version of the Soyuz reentry vehicle shape was one alternative studied for the next-generation Russian launch vehicle.

Status: Study 2008. Payload: 3,300 kg (7,200 lb). Gross mass: 11,000 kg (24,000 lb). Height: 6.60 m (21.60 ft). Diameter: 3.30 m (10.80 ft).

It was favored neither by RKK Energia (which favored the Kliper design) or by the Russian Space Agency (which preferred the PK conical reentry vehicle shape).

An enlarged version of the proven Soyuz re-entry vehicle shape, to accommodate six rather than three crew, could be considered a logical follow-on to the Soyuz itself. A similar design was in an advanced stage of design in the late 1980's as the Zarya and considered again in the 1990's as the Alpha Lifeboat for the ISS. But the design was found inferior to both the Kliper lifting-body design of RKK Energia and the Khrunichev conical re-entry vehicle favored by the Russian Space Agency. Although at 11 metric tons it had the lowest mass of any of the other designs, the Big Soyuz concept would subject the crew to 4.2 G's during normal ascents to orbit and 5 G's on re-entries. The crew would pull12 G's in an emergency abort during the launch phase.

The spacecraft would be placed in a 135 km x 440 km, 51.6 deg orbit on the baseline mission to the ISS. Its on-board propulsion system would bring it to a rendezvous and docking with the station. The capsule provided a total of 12 cubic meters of habitable volume, or 2 cubic meters per crew member.

The capsule provided sufficient lift for a cross-range only 75 km to either side of the ballistic re-entry landing point, and 400 km along the orbital track. This meant it could return the crew to Russian territory on only 1 or 2 orbits per day. Landing precision was within 11 kilometers of the aim point, and 70% of the capsule could be reused after a mission.

The baseline spacecraft would meet the Russian Space Agency's basic requirements which were as follows:

Crew Size: 6. Orbital Storage: 365 days. Habitable Volume: 12.00 m3.



Family: Manned spacecraft, New Generation Crewed. Country: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau, RAKA.
Photo Gallery

New GenerationNew Generation
Manned Spacecraft
Credit: © Mark Wade


New GenerationNew Generation
Launch Escape Systems of New Generation Manned Spacecraft
Credit: © Mark Wade



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