Soyuz-U2

The Soyuz-U2, with the GRAU index 11A511U2, was a Soviet and later Russian carrier rocket of the R-7 family, derived from the Soyuz-U. It differed from the baseline Soyuz-U by burning syntin instead of the RP-1 kerosene propellant, which gave it more performance, so that heavier spacecraft could be launched or lighter spacecraft placed in higher orbits. It first launched four Zenit reconnaissance satellites and then delivered crewed Soyuz spacecraft to the Salyut 7 and Mir space stations, in missions from Soyuz T-12 to T-15 and Soyuz TM-1 to TM-22, as well as Progress cargo spacecraft, the Gamma telescope and three Orlets reconnaissance satellites. In total the Soyuz-U2 was launched 72 times without a failure. In 1996 it was announced that the rocket had been retired, because the performance advantage of syntin did not justify its additional cost; the final flight, Soyuz TM-22, took place on 3 September 1995 from Gagarin's Start in Baikonur. The Progress Rocket Space Centre lists it among the rockets it built.