The Evolution of the R-7 family and it future

[Hyperion5]

I started this thread because I thought it's about time we dedicated a thread to how the R-7 family has evolved over time and what it will look like in the future.  The R-7 family is as diverse as it is historic and common, with over 1800 launches and literally dozens of different versions since it was created by Sergei Korolev's team back in the 1950s.  The R-7 was the world's first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), and a variant of it was used to launch Sputnik I, the world's first artificial satellite. 

Listed in chronological order by first flight are all R-7 variants I can find. 

1) R-7 Semyorka
First flight: 15 May 1957
Total flights: 27
Active? No   

2) Sputnik-PS
First flight: 4 October 1957
Total flights: 2
Active? No

3) Sputnik
First flight: 27 April 1958
Total flights: 2
Active? No

4) Luna
First flight: 23 September 1958
Total flights: 9
Active? No

5) R-7A Semyorka
First flight: 23 December 1959    
Total flights: 21
Active? No

6) Vostok-L
First flight: 15 May 1960
Total flights: 4
Active? No

7) Molniya
First flight: 20 January 1960    
Total flights: 26
Active? No

8 ) Vostok-K
First flight: 22 December 1960
Total flights: 13
Active? No

9) Molniya-L
Unbuilt

10) Vostok-2
First flight: 1 June 1962
Total flights: 45
Active? No   

11) Polyot
First flight: 1 November 1963
Total flights: 2
Active? No

12) Voskhod
First flight: 16 November 1963
Total flights: 300
Active? No

13) Molniya-M
First flight: 19 February 1964
Total flights: 297
Active? No

14) Vostok-2M
First flight: 28 August 1964
Total flights: 94
Active? No
   

15) Soyuz/Vostok
First flight: 27 December 1965
Total flights: 2
Active? No

16) Soyuz
First flight: 28 November 1966    
Total flights: 30
Active? No

17) Soyuz-B
unbuilt

18 ) Soyuz-V
unbuilt

19) Soyuz-R
Unbuilt



20) Soyuz-L
First flight: 24 November 1970
Total flights: 3
Active? No

21) Soyuz-M
First flight: 27 December 1971
Total flights: 8
Active? No

22) Soyuz-U
First flight: 18 May 1973
Total flights: 727
Active? Yes

23) Soyuz-U2
First flight: 23 December 1982
Total flights: 92?
Active? No

24) Soyuz-FG
First flight: 20 May 2001
Total flights: 29
Active? Yes

25) Soyuz-2.1a
First flight: 8 November 2004
Total flights: 12
Active? Yes   

26) Soyuz-2.1b
First flight: 27 December 2006
Total flights: 7
Active? Yes
      

There's so much to discuss and ask about the R-7 family.  I for one am curious as to why the Soyuz-U has not been phased out of service sooner.  Or why the Russians have not yet standardized on one Soyuz-2 variant.  There is also the family's future evolution, because let's face it, the Angara family is not about to do in the R-7 family anytime soon.  So have fun discussing everything and if you're interested, let us know how you think or want the family to evolve in the future. 

[owais.usmani]

25) Soyuz-2.1a
First flight: 8 November 2004
Total flights: 8
Active? Yes   

26) Soyuz-2.1b
First flight: 27 December 2006
Total flights: 7
Active? Yes[/b]
      

Wikipedia shows 23 launches for Soyuz 2 family till date.

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%8E%D0%B7-2_%28%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE_%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B9%29

[Hyperion5]

25) Soyuz-2.1a
First flight: 8 November 2004
Total flights: 8
Active? Yes   

26) Soyuz-2.1b
First flight: 27 December 2006
Total flights: 7
Active? Yes[/b]
      

Wikipedia shows 23 launches for Soyuz 2 family till date.

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%8E%D0%B7-2_%28%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE_%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B9%29

Well I guess my source is out of date then.  What are the updated total flight numbers for both variants? 

[AS-503]

I have attached the Soyuz User's Manual.
There are some great schematics in it (see images).

[anik]

What are the updated total flight numbers for both variants?

You can compare your data with my table.

[A12]

There are some great schematics in it (see images).

Really ! Many thanks !

[Phillip Clark]

I am looking forward to the forthcoming publication from Lardier and Barensky: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Soyuz-Launch-Vehicle-Engineering/dp/1461454581/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1T8N7NGYBSPG0&coliid=IZWGWKN9AD0C5.

[Hyperion5]

What are the updated total flight numbers for both variants?

You can compare your data with my table.

Many thanks, Anik.  I made the first update already to the 2.1a flight numbers, but if you spot other errors do let me know. 

Btw, what's your opinion on the R-7 family moving forward?  What seems like the most logical way to evolve the family to you?  I'm a big fan of taking the Soyuz 2.1V core and adding a quartet of NK-33 boosters to it.  For an upper stage you could add a pair of RD-0146D engines for direct geosynchronous satellite insertions.  I'd still keep the Fregat stage around though, which I believe has proven much more reliable than the Briz-M used on the Proton M.