Soyuz in 3 minutes
Historical and traditional Spaceship
Soyuz is a crewed spacecraft developed by Russia (Soviet Union).
Soyuz rocket, which means "union" and "alliance" in Russian, has been improved the R-7A rocket that launched the first satellite Sputnik and Vostok rocket that on boarded the first astronaut Yury Gagarin(strictly speaking, "Soyuz" is a spacecraft, but herein "Soyuz rocket").
Soyuz rocket, historical and traditional rocket, has been in operation since 1966, and there are many models. After Space Shuttle mission, it has become the only rocket capable of crewed launch (as of July 2019. But the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will be crewed test flight), and many Japanese astronauts on boarded.
Was she a weapon?
Soyuz rocket was a weapon originally developed as ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile).
It has a total length of 49.3m, a thrust of 5,932kN, and can carry 7,450kg payload (depending on conditions), and is characterized by four first stages (boosters) such as skirts.
On the day before the launch, the she is laid sideways to the launch site of Baikonur Cosmodrome, and is set up vertically (In the United States, it is manufactured vertically with a movable launcher pad and transported to the launch site as it is). In addition, the small rocket MOMO developed by Interstellar Technologies located in Taiki town Hokkaido Japan, is also turned sideways during it is manufactured and set up vertically just before launch.
Although the Soyuz rocket has recently failed or had an accident, it has achieved 933 out of 958 successes based on the results up to December 2016 (97.4% Japan Science and Technology Agency R&D Strategic Center "Russian Space Development").
Not launched from Russia despite Russian rockets?
The Soyuz rocket has been launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch of Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin were also launched from Baikonur. It is still a historical and traditional launch site where the Soyuz rocket has been launched many times.
The reason why Kazakhstan has a launch site, not Russia, is that Kazakhstan is the country independent of Soviet Union. The Baikonur Cosmodrome was built in 1955, and Kazakhstan independent in 1991, so Russia is leasing the launch site that has become the property of another country due to independence (Soviet collapse).
Comic "Dual Use"
The comic above is created by @_Pkrin, who belongs to the online salon "Anman Salon" operated by @wakanjyu321, Japanese genius / beautiful manga artist. Grateful thanks!
Click here for "Anman Salon" which can deal with the mission of space law and rocket girls project.
The space business is based on "dual use". In other words, rockets and satellites were originally used for military purposes, and have the duality of being diverted to civilian use.
I asked for this comic to describe the history of Soyuz and being opportunity to think about "peaceful use of outer space".
Soyuz, has an important mission for manned launches, was originally an ICBM. The satellite service we use now was originally a satellite that the United States and Soviet Union showed their power each other, including Sputnik which the United States feared.
When talking about rockets and satellites, sometimes it is described as "weapons that can kill people if we take a wrong step", but I want to understand as "Even though weapons that can kill people if we take a wrong step, it is possible to create the future of humanity IF WE USE IT DIFFERENTLY".
Reference:
・JAXA website "Soyuz Rocket"
・National Research and Development Agency Research and Development Strategy Center "Russian Space Development"
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