Next Generation of Russian Launchers: First Start from Baikonur
On April 30, 2026, at 21:00 Moscow time, a historic milestone occurred at the Baikonur Cosmodrome's Site 45 — the first test launch of the Soyuz-5 medium-class carrier rocket.
Successful Flight Tests
The first and second stages performed nominally. The mass simulator was successfully delivered to the target suborbital trajectory. This launch marks the beginning of the design flight test phase for this next-generation launcher.
Power and Sustainability
- World Record: The first stage is powered by the RD-171MV — the most powerful liquid rocket engine in the world.
- Payload Capacity: The rocket is capable of delivering up to 17 tons to low Earth orbit.
- Eco-friendly: It utilizes environmentally clean propellant components.
- Economics: Operating the "Soyuz-5" will significantly reduce the specific cost of launching spacecraft into orbit.
The Baiterek Project
The carrier was developed by RCC Progress (Samara) and is operated from the "Baiterek" launch complex, which features a high degree of pre-launch automation. The project is implemented in close partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan.
"Today marks a special launch — the first start of a new Russian rocket with the most powerful engine in the world. It is a new step in space exploration," — Dmitry Bakanov, Head of Roscosmos State Corporation.
Source: Roscosmos
Photos by: Ivan Timoshenko and Artem Pylaev / Roscosmos Media
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