What distinction must be recognized between the Soyuz spacecraft and the vehicle it launches upon?

The Soyuz spacecraft is the capsule carrying the crew, and it launches atop a Soyuz-family rocket, which encompasses the launch vehicle stages.

A crucial technical distinction exists in terminology when discussing Soyuz missions. The 'Soyuz spacecraft' specifically refers to the re-entry capsule that houses the crew and performs the orbital maneuvering and landing phases. This capsule, however, is launched into space using a 'Soyuz-family rocket,' which refers to the multi-stage launch vehicle required to achieve orbit. Although mission reports often refer to the combined system, understanding this separation is important because issues might affect only the crew capsule or only the launch vehicle components independently.