Technical Details
Roscosmos has determined the schedule for testing the new Soyuz-5 rocket: the next launch is scheduled for the second half of 2027, and the third launch is scheduled for 2028. According to Deputy Director General of Roscosmos Dmitry Baranov, the program includes three flight tests. The first test has already taken place on April 30, 2026, and was successful — the stages worked normally, and the payload mockup was safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
Background and Context
This method of completing the flight was chosen to reduce the load on the infrastructure and minimize pollution of the land. The drop zone was closed in advance for shipping and aviation. After the third test flight, the serial operation of the rocket will begin.
Industry Impact
The Soyuz-5 is a medium-class rocket developed by the Progress Rocket Space Centre. It is equipped with the RD-171 engine — the most powerful liquid rocket engine — and is capable of carrying up to 18.5 tons to low Earth orbit. The rocket is designed for launching automatic spacecraft and can be used with upper stages for various orbits.