Soyuz-5 makes its first flight from Baikonur, a successful suborbital test

Roscosmos/Soyuz-5

Russia's new Soyuz-5 rocket flew for the first time from Baikonur Site 45, carrying a dummy payload. Roscosmos said both stages worked normally and the mock-up followed its planned suborbital path into the Pacific. The rocket is part of the joint Baiterek project with Kazakhstan.

• Lifted off at 23:00 Astana time on April 30, 2026.
• First stage uses what Roscosmos calls the world's most powerful liquid rocket engine.
• Aims to cut launch costs and carry up to 17 t with cleaner propellants.
• Russia leases Baikonur until 2050.