Launch of Soyuz-2.1a rocket with RD-107A108A engines made by UEC-Kuznetsov. Photo: United Engine Corporation
Series-produced RD-107A/RD-108A rocket engines made by Samara-based company of United Engine Corporation ensured successful start of Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft with Space Missions 70 and 71 crew to the International Space Station.
On September 15 at 18:44 Moscow time, Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft was launched from launchpad No.31 at Baikonur Cosmodrome and delivered to orbit by Soyuz-2.1a space rocket. RD-107A/RD-108A first-stage and second-stage sustainer engines made by UEC-Kuznetsov worked without any failures.
Soyuz MS-24 crew includes the members of long space missions 70 and 71 to ISS – Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub from Roscosmos and Loral O'Hara from NASA.
UEC-Kuznetsov service center personnel prepared the space rocket for the start and also tracked the engine operation conditions.
Stages I and II of all R-7 type carrier rockets (including Soyuz type carrier rockets) have been furnished with RD-107А/108А propulsion modifications since 1958.
