Roscosmos announced intentions for the impending launch of a innovative Soyuz-5 spacecraft
Ready to blast off! The innovative Soyuz-5 rocket is nearly here!
Set for takeoff this December from the joint Russian-Kazakhstani space rocket complex "Baikonur," the Soyuz-5 is an exciting addition to the world of space exploration. Dmitry Bakhanov, the general director of Roscosmos, confirmed the launch date during commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of Baikonur's founding.
Construction is progressing smoothly to complete the assembly work, prepare the infrastructure, and ready the launch pad for the first test launch. The rocket is scheduled to arrive at Baikonur by October, at which point pre-flight preparations will commence.
Known as the Baikonur project, this venture between Russia and Kazakhstan aims to create a more eco-friendly medium-class rocket with a larger payload capacity for launching autonomous spacecraft into Earth orbit. Kazakhstan is responsible for modernizing the launch platform (Site No.45, previously used for launches of Soviet "Zenit" rockets), while Russia focuses on the development and production of the carrier rocket.
Initially, the Angara was set to be the rocket of choice. However, due to significant cost increases and funding issues, the parties shifted their attention toward adapted Ukrainian two- and three-stage "Zenit-2SLB" rockets. This alliance failure led to a return to the Russian rocket line, and the creation of Soyuz-5's blueprint was completed by December 2021.
Full-scale operations at "Baikonur" are expected to commence in 2028, with an ambitious goal of six to eight launches per year. Interestingly, Russian satellite startup Bureau 1440 is anticipated to be the first customer for the Soyuz-5 rocket, with the inaugural launch likely to occur before the end of 2025.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to monitor this groundbreaking development!
Dmitry Sotak
[1] Source: SpaceNews, May 2023
The Soyuz-5 rocket, a significant addition to science and space-and-astronomy, is undergoing final preparations for its launch are scheduled for December this year at the Baikonur space complex. With the aim of creating a more eco-friendly medium-class rocket, the project is a collaboration between Russia and Kazakhstan, and the technology behind its development is crucial for future space exploration and autonomous spacecraft launches.
