New Russian space launch vehicle undergoing final tests, top official says

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April 11, 2026 6:08 PM EDT

Head of the Roscosmos space corporation Dmitry Bakanov attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia April 11, 2026. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS

April 11 (Reuters) - A ‌new Russian ​launch ​vehicle, Soyuz-5, is undergoing its final tests and is "absolutely ready" for use in space ‌projects, Russia's top space official said on ⁠Saturday.

Dmitry Bakanov, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, was ‌presenting details of the ‌rocket to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the first ​flight in space by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Bakanov said the Soyuz-5 would be the first new ⁠launch vehicle developed in Russia since 2014.

"The new Soyuz-5 launch vehicle ​is absolutely ready. This is our joint project with our partners in Kazakhstan known ​as Baiterek," Russian news agencies ‌quoted Bakanov as saying.

"Currently, tests of all units and assemblies are underway."

Bakanov said ⁠the rocket had already been placed during tests in a vertical position as preparations proceeded.

Plans call for the ⁠new two-stage rocket, capable of placing payloads of up to ​17 metric tonnes in orbit, to be used in place of Zenit rockets.

Launches will be conducted at the Baikonur space ‌centre dating from Soviet times and now located in Kazakhstan.

Putin, quoted by Russian ‌news agencies, said Russia's space industry was now "feeling ⁠more confident. I know ‌that many problems ​had accumulated there over a long period of time."

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Paul ‌Simao)


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