Soyuz-ST-B

Soyuz ST-B Soyuz at CSG (Guiana) with Fregat

Mission Profile

Soyuz-ST-B is a specialized variant of the Soyuz-2 series configured for launch operations from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in French Guiana, operated by Arianespace under a landmark 2003 cooperation agreement with Roscosmos. Standing 46.3 meters tall with a liftoff mass of 312,000 kg and generating 4,150 kN of thrust, this four-stage vehicle pairs the Soyuz-2.1b core with the Fregat restartable upper stage. Since its first Kourou launch in October 2011, the Soyuz-ST-B has expanded ESA's and Arianespace's mission portfolio by delivering medium payloads to a wider range of orbits than Ariane 5 could cost-effectively reach, providing European launch customers with a competitive mid-size vehicle alongside their heavy and light launcher options.