Russia Conducts First Launch of Soyuz-5 Rocket from Baikonur
Summary: On May 1, 2026, Roscosmos announced that Russia's next-generation Soyuz-5 medium-lift launch vehicle conducted its inaugural launch from the Baiterek complex at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The test flight proceeded as planned, marking the Soyuz-5's official entry into its flight test phase. The rocket was developed jointly by RKK Energia and the Progress Rocket and Space Center.
Credit: Sputnik News (reproduced with permission)
The Soyuz-5 is a next-generation Russian medium-lift launch vehicle with a two/three-stage configuration, weighing approximately 530 tons at liftoff, measuring about 61.87 meters in length and 4.1 meters in diameter, powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants. The first stage uses the RD-171MV engine — an upgraded version of the Soviet-era RD-171 engine that powered the Zenit rocket, with a sea-level thrust of 740 tons, earning it the nickname "Tsar Engine." The second stage is planned to use the RD-0124MS engine, with "hot staging" between stages — meaning the second stage engine ignites before physical separation occurs.
The Soyuz-5 has a low Earth orbit payload capacity of approximately 17.8 tons and a geosynchronous transfer orbit capacity of approximately 2.5 tons. Its primary purpose is to restore Russia's medium-lift launch capabilities and reduce dependence on external technology. This project is a joint Russian-Kazakhstan endeavor: Russia is responsible for rocket development and manufacturing, while Kazakhstan is modernizing the launch pad infrastructure at the Baiterek complex.
This inaugural launch was a test flight, with the rocket lifting off from Baiterek's dedicated launch facility. The Soyuz-5 is expected to form part of Russia's next-generation launch vehicle family alongside the Soyuz-6 and the heavy Angara series.