Radio Frequencies Used by Soyuz

This table contains frequencies used by example missions throughout the years. It starts with from the testing phase in in the 1960s and use as a space station ferry to Salyut and Mir. It goes right through to the current Soyuz-TMA version serving the ISS to carry Expedition crews and the occasional space tourist. While docked with the International Space Station, Soyuz is available as a 'lifeboat' in case of emergency.

There is no immediate sign of Soyuz being replaced so there should be plenty of signals to track over the next few years. It's ultimate replacement is likely to move to higher frequency bands and digitised transmission of voice, at which point some of the fun of tracking will disappear.

Freq (MHz)	Satellite	Payload	Signal Type	Notes
15.009	Soyuz 9 (Soyuz No17) 1970-041A 4407	Development/Solo Programme	CW-PDM - 16 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second	Transmissions detected from most solo Soyuz missions, (excluding ASTP flights), but including test missions orbited under the 'Cosmos' label
15.009	Soyuz 11 (Soyuz 7K-T No32) 1971-053A 5283	Salyut Crew transport	CW-PDM - 16 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second	Transmissions detected from Soyuz space station missions
18.035	Soyuz	Development and Solo programme	CW-PDM - 16 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second?	CW-PDM - 16 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second?
18.060	Soyuz	Development and Solo programme	CW-PDM - 16 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second?	CW-PDM - 16 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second?
20.005	Soyuz Practice Recovery Beacon	Soviet exercises/tests	Recovery beacon	Sometimes transmitted for long periods, possible ground simulations or tests of recovery apparatus associated with Soyuz operations and development - morse code letters 'AN'
20.008	Soyuz 9 (Soyuz No17) 1970-041A 4407	Development/Solo Programme	CW-PDM - 15 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second	Transmissions detected from solo Soyuz missions (ASTP flights excepted), including test missions orbited under the 'Cosmos' label; specific exceptions were the ASTP-related missions
20.008	Soyuz 11 (Soyuz 7K-T No32) 1971-053A 5283	Salyut Crew transport	CW-PDM - 15 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second	Transmissions detected from Soyuz space station missions
20.008	Soyuz T-15 (Soyuz 7K-ST No21L) 1986-022A 16643	Salyut/Mir Crew transport	CW-PDM - 15 data channels - transmitted approx 1 measurement per second	Transmissions detected from Soyuz-T missions, including test missions orbited under the 'Cosmos' label
121.750	Soyuz 9 (Soyuz No17) 1970-041A 4407	Development/Solo Programme	Medium bandwidth FM voice	Transmissions detected from most Soyuz missions
121.750	Soyuz 11 (Soyuz 7K-T No32) 1971-053A 5283	Salyut Crew transport	Medium bandwidth FM voice	Frequency used during on-orbit operationsand reportedly used for recovery beacon during landing module descent - Also transmits at 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz
121.750	Soyuz T-15 (Soyuz 7K-ST No21L) 1986-022A 16643	Salyut/Mir Crew transport	Medium bandwidth FM voice	Frequency used during on-orbit operations to and from the Space Station, and reportedly used for recovery beacon during landing module descent - Also transmits at 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz
121.750	Soyuz TM-34 (Soyuz TM No208) 2002-020A 27416	Mir/ISS Crew transport	Medium bandwidth FM voice	Frequency used during on-orbit operations to and from the Space Station, and reportedly used for recovery beacon during landing module descent - Also transmits at 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz
121.750	Soyuz TMA-1 (Soyuz 11F732 No211) 2002-050A 27552	ISS Crew transport	Medium bandwidth FM voice	Frequency used during on-orbit operations to and from the Space Station, and reportedly used for recovery beacon during landing module descent - Also transmits at 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz
166.000	Soyuz 9 (Soyuz No17) 1970-041A 4407	Development/Solo Programme	FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz	Transmissions detected from most Soyuz and Soyuz-T missions, including the test missions orbited under the 'Cosmos' label; specific exceptions were the ASTP-related missions
166.000	Soyuz 11 (Soyuz 7K-T No32) 1971-053A 5283	Salyut Crew transport	FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz	Transmits during on-orbit operations - The transmission sounds as a loud buzz with sharp peaks at the sideband frequencies - Also transmits at 121.750 MHz and 922.763 MHz
166.000	Soyuz T-15 (Soyuz 7K-ST No21L) 1986-022A 16643	Salyut/Mir Crew transport	FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz	Transmits during on-orbit operations to and from the ISS, and while docked with the space station - The transmission sounds as a loud buzz with sharp peaks at the sideband frequencies - Also transmits at 121.750 MHz and 922.763 MHz
166.000	Soyuz TM-34 (Soyuz TM No208) 2002-020A 27416	ISS Crew transport	FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz	Transmits during on-orbit operations to and from the ISS, and while docked with the space station - The transmission sounds as a loud buzz with sharp peaks at the sideband frequencies - Also transmits at 121.750 MHz and 922.763 MHz
166.000	Soyuz TMA-1 (Soyuz 11F732 No211) 2002-050A 27552	ISS Crew transport	FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz	Transmits during on-orbit operations to and from the ISS, and while docked with the space station - The transmission sounds as a loud buzz with sharp peaks at the sideband frequencies - Also transmits at 121.750 MHz and 922.763 MHz
922.763	Soyuz 9 (Soyuz No17) 1970-041A 4407	Development/Solo Programme	CW	Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency - transmits during the approach and departure phases from the ISS and occasionally during checks while docked - Also transmitted at 121.75 MHz and 166 MHz, and HF
922.763	Soyuz 11 (Soyuz 7K-T No32) 1971-053A 5283	Salyut Ferry	CW	Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency - transmits during the approach and departure phases from the ISS and occasionally during checks while docked - Also transmitted at 121.75 MHz and 166 MHz, and HF
922.763	Soyuz T-15 (Soyuz 7K-ST No21L) 1986-022A 16643	Salyut crew transport	CW	Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency - transmits during the approach and departure phases from the ISS and occasionally during checks while docked - Also transmitted at 121.75 MHz and 166 MHz, and HF
922.763	Soyuz TM-34 (Soyuz TM No208) 2002-020A 27416	ISS crew transport	CW	Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency - transmits during the approach and departure phases from the ISS and occasionally during checks while docked - Also transmits at 121.75 MHz and 166 MHz
922.763	Soyuz TMA-1 (Soyuz 11F732 No211) 2002-050A 27552	ISS crew transport	CW	Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency - transmits during the approach and departure phases from the ISS and occasionally during checks while docked - Also transmits at 121.75 MHz and 166 MHz