he "Soyuz" booster type was used for "Soyuz"   spacecraft   and other launches. It consisted of an R-7 with a new Block-I (Venus) upper stage in place of the Vostok's Block-Ye upper stage. The stage measured eight meters long and 2.6 meters in diameter. The stage used a RD-461 engine which was very similar to the RD-108. The stage weighed about 2300 kg. empty. The first test of the stage without an additional escape stage was "Kosmos 22", the first second generation reconnaissance satellite, on November 16, 1963. The "Soyuz" has three major variants, the "Soyuz-M", the "Soyuz-U" and "Soyuz-U2". Difference between the "Soyuz-M" and "Soyuz-U" are a different rocket engines.  The "Soyuz-U2" uses a special kerosene propellant to increase payload capacity. It was retired from service in late 1996 due to the prohibitive cost of making he special propellant. The first launch of the "Soyuz M" from Plesetsk was at 27 December  1971 ("Kosmos-470") and "Soyuz-U" at 18 May 1973 ("Kosmos-559"). This booster capable  launch weight of 6.3 - 6.6 tons   into low orbit. The "Soyuz-U2" upgrade was introduced in 1986 to support the "Soyuz-TM"   spacecraft and has also been used for "Progress-M" spacecraft and the sixth generation photographic reconnaissance satellites. Two "Soyuz-U" launch pads are operational at the Baikonur Cosmodrome (Complexes 1 and 31)  and  three  are  available  at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome   (Complexes  16  and  43  left  and   right).

The "Soyuz"- family of launch vehicles is based on the original R-7 ICBM (designated SS-6 in the West, code-named "Sapwood" by NATO), which was first flown in August 1957. The R-7 evolved to become the "Sputnik" (Satellite), "Vostok" (East), "Voskhod" (Sunrise), "Molniya" (Lightning), and "Soyuz" (Union) launch vehicles, and each of these had several variants. The "Soyuz", and earlier versions of the "Vostok" and "Voskhod", have launched 90 flights of humans as of 30 June 1999. After 40 years, this family of rockets has long been the most-launched rocket family with upgrades being introduced that will continue its production into the next century. The "Soyuz- U/U2" launcher currently has a LEO payload capacity of approximately 7,300 kg for 52 degree inclination orbits. Used to launch every former Soviet Union piloted spacecraft since 1964. Also used to launch photo reconnaissance satellites, earth resource satellites, and "Progress" resupply missions to the "Mir" space station.