Soyuz program



         


The Soyuz human spaceflight programme was initiated in the early 1960s as part of the Luna programme that was intended to put a Soviet cosmonaut on the Moon. The Soyuz spacecraft and the Soyuz launch vehicle are both part of this programme.

The Moon objective was abandoned when technological problems meant that the US would reach the Moon first. Soyuz survived the demise of the Luna programme in that it developed into a variety of projects (both military and civilian), mostly in conjunction with space stations.

As of 2003, Soyuz derivatives provide Russia's human spaceflight capability and are used to ferry personnel and supplies to and from the International Space Station.



Soyuz missions include:

Vostok programme Voskhod programme Soyuz programme






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