Soyuz U vs Soyuz 2.1a
Side-by-side comparison across specs, pricing, and overall score — every value traced to a source.
Verdict: Soyuz U ranks highest overall (#2) with a score of 69.8.
The best choice still depends on which specs matter for your workload — per-metric winners are marked below.
What the numbers hide
Computed from the published values below — no estimates, no generated claims.
Fragile verdict
The overall winner flips to Soyuz U if LEO Capacity is weighted at 20% (it counts for 25% today). If leo capacity drives your decision, the ranking above may not be your ranking.
Fragile verdict
The overall winner flips to Soyuz U if Successful Launches is weighted at 30% (it counts for 25% today). If successful launches drives your decision, the ranking above may not be your ranking.
Real tradeoff
Soyuz U clearly beats Soyuz 2.1a on Successful Launches but clearly loses on LEO Capacity — this pair is a priorities question, not a quality question.
What nobody reports
Launch Cost (1 of 2 missing) — the questions worth asking vendors directly.
AI hot take
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| Metric | Soyuz URussian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | Soyuz 2.1aProgress Rocket Space Center |
|---|---|---|
| Overall OptiSift Score | 69.8#2 | 41.6#16 |
| LEO Capacity | 6,900 | 7,020 |
| Successful Launches | 694 | 57 |
| Launch Cost | — | 80,000,000 |
| Failed Launches | 20 | 1 |
| Launch Mass | 313 | 312 |
| Length | 51.1 | 46.3 |
| Diameter | 2.95 | 2.95 |
| Reusable | No | No |