Soyuz launch profile

Template
Prelaunch
Launch & ascent
Diagrams

Descriptions of a typical Soyuz launch, taken from Expedition Press Kits and On-Orbit Reports.

Soyuz TMA-3 launch-and-ascent template

Soyuz 7S will fly a standard 34-orbit (2-day) timeline template from launch through docking. Actual day and time of launch must meet certain phasing requirements vis-à-vis the target (ISS) in order for this to work.

Flight operations are highly automated, reliant on stored program command timelines and standard command uplinks.

Soyuz and Progress follow the same basic timeline;

Soyuz crew activities are largely monitor-only functions, with a few exceptions;

Consequently, many systems activities occur only when Russian Ground Sites (RGS) are in line-of-sight (there are 5 RGS);

Rendezvous maneuvers are NOT constrained to occur over Russian tracking network. Post-burn telemetry and tracked is used for maneuver assessment.

Soyuz and Progress vehicles are controlled by a separate, dedicated flight control team in MCC-Moscow (TsUP), not the ISS team.

Soyuz crew operates off the RODF (Russian orbital data file), i.e., five books, covering Ascent/Descent, Orbital Flight, Off-Nominal Situations, Reserve Modes, and Reference Materials, as well as standard radiogram formats. Medical Kit and Portable Survival Kit instructions are translated into English.

L −5 days	Crew returned to Baikonur from Moscow where they had final medical; exercise, spacecraft briefing, flight plan briefing, Soyuz Manual Docking simulation; Practice using handheld laser for R and R-dot, P/TV Refresher
L −2 days	Traditional events (Commission meetings on mission readiness at Baikonur Hotel) flight crew, backup crew, & flight surgeon, exercise, rest and study
Day of launch
L −3 hours	Crew dons suits in test room; RSC-Energiya presentation everything GO with crew and vehicle (RSA); words from VIPs
L −2.5 hours	Crew takes bus to launch pad, “waters” tyre about 200 meters from launch pad (old Gagarin tradition ;-)
L −2 hours	Spacecraft ingress (through orbital module down into descent module)
Ascent to orbit	Takes 9 minutes. At L +9:00 the Soyuz spacecraft separates from the burnt-out booster, at 194 km altitude, 1710 km downrange from Baikonur; major crew action during ascent is to monitor pressures in the orbital module (BO) and descent module (SA), confirm all booster separation, launch escape system jettison and spacecraft separation Crew then monitors all automatic deployments (solar arrays, antennae, etc.), reports on no leaks, probe extension, prop pressurization, and ECLS system and health First orbit should be about 233 x 182 km (average = 207 km). From there, the rendezvous profile follows the two-day standard timeline Liftoff (выведение, vyvedenie)

– Source: 17 October 2003 On-Orbit Report.

Prelaunch

A nominal Soyuz pre-launch profile. This was originally in the Expedition 1 Press Kit, later also posted on the NASA Soyuz Launch Overview and Timeline page. The Press Kits from Expedition 7 onwards also have the same profile. All crews from ISS-7 onwards launched in the Soyuz.

T −34 hours	Booster is prepared for fuel loading
T −6:00:00	Batteries are installed in booster
T −5:30:00	State Commission give permission to take launch vehicle
T −5:15:00	Crew arrives at Site 254
T −5:00:00	Tanking begins
T −4:20:00	Spacesuit donning
T −4:00:00	Booster is loaded with liquid oxygen
T −3:40:00	Crew meets delegations
T −3:10:00	Reports to the State Commission
T −3:05:00	Transfer to the launch pad
T −3:00:00	Vehicle first- and second-stage oxidizer fuelling complete
T −2:35:00	Crew arrives at launch vehicle
T −2:30:00	Crew ingress though Orbital Module side hatch
T −2:00:00	Crew in re-entry vehicle
T −1:45:00	Re-entry vehicle hardware tested; Sokol suits are ventilated
T −1:30:00	Launch command monitoring and supply unit prepared Orbital compartment hatch tested for sealing
T −1:00:00	Launch vehicle control system prepared for use; gyro instruments activated
T −:45:00	Launch pad service structure halves are lowered
T −:30:00	Emergency escape system armed; launch command supply unit activated
T −:25:00	Service towers withdrawn
T −:15:00	Suit leak tests complete; crew engages personal escape hardware auto mode
T −:10:00	Launch gyro instruments uncaged; crew activates on-board recorders
T −7:00	All prelaunch operations are complete
T −6:15	Key to launch command given at the launch site Automatic program of final launch operations is activated
T −5:00	Onboard systems switched to onboard control Ground measurement system activated by RUN 1 command Commander’s controls activated Crew switches to suit air by closing helmets Launch key inserted in launch bunker
T −3:15	Combustion chambers of side and central engine pods purged with nitrogen
T −2:30	Booster propellant tank pressurization starts Onboard measurement system activated by RUN 2 command Prelaunch pressurization of all tanks with nitrogen begins
T −2:15	Oxidizer and fuel drain and safety valves of launch vehicle are closed Ground filling of oxidizer and nitrogen to the launch vehicle is terminated
T −1:00	Vehicle on internal power Automatic sequencer on First umbilical tower separates from booster
T −:40	Ground power supply umbilical to third stage is disconnected
T −:20	Launch command given at the launch position Central and side pod engines are turned on
T −:15	Second umbilical tower separates from booster
T −:10	Engine turbopumps at flight speed
T −:05	First-stage engines at maximum thrust
T −:00	Fuelling tower separates Lift-off!

Launch & ascent

T −:00	Lift-off
T +1:10	Booster velocity is 500 meters/second
T +1:58	Stage 1 (strap-on boosters) separation
T +2:00	Booster velocity is 1500 m/sec
T +2:40	Escape tower & launch shroud jettison
T +4:58	Core booster separates at 170 kilometers Third stage ignites
T +7:30	Velocity is 6000 m/sec
T +9:00	Third stage cut-off Soyuz separates Antennas and solar panels deploy Flight control switches to TsUP (Moscow Mission Control Center), Korolev

Diagrams

A diagram from the MARS Center site (Mission Profile):

Soyuz TMA launch profile (external link, 75 KB)