Soyuz

American  

[saw-yooz, suh-yooz] / ˈsɔ yuz, sʌˈyuz /

noun

1. one of a series of Soviet spacecraft, carrying one, two, or three cosmonauts, who carried out scientific research and developed rendezvous and docking techniques: still used to ferry crews to Soviet space stations.

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Soyuz British  

/ sɔɪˈjʊz /

noun

1. any of a series of Russian spacecraft used to ferry crew to and from space stations

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Etymology

Origin of Soyuz

From the Russian word Soyúz literally, union

Example Sentences

Throughout the 2010s, American astronauts reached the space station by hitching rides on Russian Soyuz rockets, until a burgeoning private-sector spaceflight industry stepped in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

There is also a life-sized Soyuz model that is being used to test the rails that will carry MaiaSpace's rocket to its future launchpad.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

The Russian Soyuz launcher was chosen because it is one of the most reliable in the world for transporting sensitive satellites, according to the Fars news agency.

From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025

His trip comes 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to fly to space aboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2025

There were plans for her to command an all-female crew on International Women’s Day on April 3, 1986, but it was canceled due to a lack of Soyuz spacecraft.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson