Soyuz Program

A long-lived workhorse of human spaceflight.

Overview

The Soyuz program is one of the most reliable and long-lived human spaceflight systems in history. First flown in the 1960s, Soyuz spacecraft have carried cosmonauts and astronauts to low Earth orbit, space stations, and the International Space Station (ISS) for decades.

Even after the retirement of the U.S. Space Shuttle, Soyuz remained the only crewed vehicle serving the ISS for many years, becoming a backbone of global human spaceflight.

📌 Program Facts

Role: Crewed orbital spacecraft

First Flight: 1960s

Uses: Salyut, Mir, ISS crew transport

Why Soyuz Matters

  • Provided continuous human access to space for over half a century.
  • Maintained international cooperation through ISS crew exchanges.
  • Known for robust, proven design and “lifeboat” capability on the ISS.
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