Displaying items by tag: Soyuz spacecraft

The Soyuz spacecraft (not to be mixed with the Soyuz rocket) is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today. The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft and was originally built as part of the Soviet Manned Lunar programme. 

The Soyuz spacecraft is launched by the Soyuz rocket, the most frequently used and most reliable Russian launch vehicle to date. Soyuz spacecraft were used to carry cosmonauts to and from Salyut and later Mir Soviet space stations, and are now used for transport to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

At least one Soyuz spacecraft is docked to ISS at all times for use as an escape craft in the event of an emergency.