Editing Soyuz (rocket family) (section)

== Fairings used for uncrewed missions ==
The Soyuz [[launch vehicle]] is used for various Russian uncrewed missions and is also marketed by Starsem for commercial satellite launches. Presently the following fairing types are used:

'''Progress''' is the cargo spacecraft for uncrewed missions to the ISS and previously to [[Mir]]. The spacecraft uses a dedicated platform and fairing and can be launched with either Soyuz-U, Soyuz-FG or Soyuz-2.

'''A-type''' fairing is used for commercial launches.

'''S-type''' fairing is used for commercial launches by Starsem. The fairing has external diameter of 3.7 m and a length of 7.7 m. The Fregat upper stage is encapsulated in the fairing with the payload and a payload adapter/dispenser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starsem.com/soyuz/soyuz.htm|title=Soyuz Launch Vehicle|publisher=Starsem|access-date=29 March 2013}}</ref> S-type fairing along with Fregat upper stage were used to launch the following spacecraft: [[Galaxy (satellite)|Galaxy 14]], [[GIOVE|GIOVE A]], [[Mars Express]], [[Amos-2|AMOS-2]], [[Venus Express]], [[Cluster (spacecraft)|Cluster]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.federalspace.ru/Roket1Show.asp?RoketID=36|title=Carrier rocket Soyuz-FG with RB Frigate|publisher=federalspace.ru|access-date=29 March 2013|url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206095838/http://www.federalspace.ru/Roket1Show.asp?RoketID=36|archive-date=December 6, 2007}}</ref>

'''SL-type''' fairing is used for commercial launches by Starsem. The fairing has external diameter of 3.7 m and a length of 8.45 m. The Fregat upper stage is encapsulated in the fairing with the payload and a payload adapter/dispenser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starsem.com/news/images/Corot_launch_kit.pdf|title=Arianespace and Starsem to orbit COROT|publisher=Starsem|access-date=29 March 2013}}</ref> SL-type fairing along with Fregat upper stage were used to launch the following spacecraft: [[CoRoT]].

'''ST-type''' fairing is used for commercial launches by Starsem. Its external diameter is 4.1 m and its length is 11.4 m. It can be used with the Soyuz-2 only, because older analog control system cannot cope with aerodynamic instability introduced by a fairing this large. This carbon-plastic fairing is based on the proven configuration used for Arianespace's [[Ariane 4]] vehicles, with its length increased by approximately one additional meter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arianespace.com/launch-services-soyuz/soyuz-introduction.asp|title=Soyuz: Overview|publisher=Arianespace|access-date=29 March 2013 }}</ref> The fairing has been developed and is being manufactured by [[Progress Rocket Space Centre|TsSKB-Progress]] in accordance with the requirements of a customer ([[Starsem]]). This is the only fairing type offered by Starsem/Arianespace for launches from Kourou.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arianespace.com/launch-services-soyuz/Soyuz_Users_Manual_CSG_June06.pdf|title=Soyuz from the Guiana Space Centre: User's Manual |date=June 2006|publisher=Arianespace|access-date=29 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813151913/http://www.arianespace.com/launch-services-soyuz/Soyuz_Users_Manual_CSG_June06.pdf|archive-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> [[Progress M-UM]] is the only Progress Spacecraft that was launched while being enclosed in a ST fairing.