Soyuz-M

Soyuz-M

Function	Carrier rocket
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Country of origin	Soviet Union
Size
Height	50 metres (160 ft)
Diameter	10.3 metres (34 ft)
Mass	300,000 kilograms (660,000 lb)
Stages	Two
Capacity
Payload to LEO	6,600 kilograms (15,000 lb)
Associated rockets
Family	R-7
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Total launches	8
Successes	8
First flight	27 December 1971
Last flight	31 March 1976
Notable payloads	Zenit-4MT

The Soyuz-M (Russian: Союз, meaning "Union"), GRAU index 11A511M was a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed by OKB-1 and manufactured by State Aviation Plant No. 1 in Samara, Russia. It was originally built to launch manned Soyuz 7K-VI spacecraft for the Soviet armed forces. Following the cancellation of this programme, development of the rocket continued for the Soyuz 7K-S spacecraft. After this too was cancelled, Soyuz-M development was also abandoned, and the rockets that had been completed were used to launch reconnaissance satellites.

While the exact details of the Soyuz-M are not known, it is believed to be a two stage rocket, derived from the Soyuz. It may have been similar to the later Soyuz-U. Following the cancellation of the Soyuz 7K-S, eight were launched with Zenit-4MT spacecraft. The first of these launches occurred on 27 December 1971, and the last on 31 March 1976. All launches occurred from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the first used Site 43/4, however the sites used by the subsequent launches were not recorded.