The Soyuz GVK is a Russian uncrewed cargo spacecraft currently under development. Its first flight was expected to occur in 2022, this however has not happened.[1] Like the uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft, the Soyuz GVK is based on the crewed Soyuz spacecraft. However, the Soyuz GVK will be capable of returning to Earth and bringing cargo back whereas the Progress burns up in Earth's atmosphere upon the end of its mission. The only other resupply spacecraft capable of bringing cargo down from orbit is the SpaceX Dragon 2 cargo spacecraft.[2] Soyuz GVK will be able to deliver 2,000 kg to orbit and return 500 kg back to Earth.[3]
| Manufacturer | Energia |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Operator | Russian Federal Space Agency |
| Applications | Space station resupply |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Cargo spacecraft |
| Launch mass | Up to 8,020kg |
| Payload capacity | 2,000kg |
| Crew capacity | 0 |
| Dimensions | 2.70m width, 7.23m span |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Design life | 30 Days (Free flight), 370 Days (Docked to Space station) |
| Production | |
| Status | In Development |
| Maiden launch | Currently Unknown; Originally planned for 2022 |
| Related spacecraft | |
| Derived from | Soyuz MS |
It is planned to launch on board a Soyuz 2.1b booster.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Russia to develop cargo retrievable spacecraft Soyuz GVK". Devdiscourse.com. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "Dragon". SpaceX.com. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "РКК «Энергия»: старт беспилотного «Союза МС» планируется в августе 2019 года" [RKK Energia: launch of unmanned Soyuz MS is planned for August 2019] (in Russian). RKK Energia. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ "Retrievable Progress GVK spacecraft". Russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 4 January 2019.