Russia’s Soyuz 5 will soon come alive. But will anyone want to fly on it?
After nearly a decade of development, Russia is poised to debut its new medium-lift launch vehicle, the Soyuz 5 rocket, with a planned launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome before the end of 2023. The Russian space corporation, Roscosmos, has recently shared images showcasing the final processing stages of the Soyuz 5 at the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara. Following this crucial phase, the rocket was transported to the launch site in Kazakhstan, arriving on November 12. This launch marks a significant moment for Russia’s space ambitions, especially given the context of increasing competition from commercial space ventures in the West.
Despite the anticipation surrounding its launch, the Soyuz 5 does not represent a significant technological advancement compared to its predecessors. Instead, it can be seen as a strategic response to the rise of commercial launch vehicles developed in Western countries, as well as the ongoing geopolitical challenges stemming from Russia’s protracted conflict in Ukraine. The Soyuz 5 is designed to carry payloads of up to 17 tons to low Earth orbit, positioning it to compete with the likes of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and other commercial rockets. However, the effectiveness of this new vehicle in revitalizing Russia’s space program and reclaiming its competitive edge on the global stage remains uncertain. As the launch date approaches, the world watches closely to see if the Soyuz 5 can successfully navigate the challenges ahead and establish itself as a reliable player in the evolving landscape of space exploration and satellite deployment.
After nearly a decade of development, Russia’s newest launch vehicle is close to its debut flight. The medium-lift Soyuz 5 rocket is expected to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome before the end of the year.
The Russian space corporation, Roscosmos, has released images of final processing of the Soyuz 5 rocket at the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara, Russia, earlier this month before the booster was shipped to the launch site in Kazakhstan. It arrived there on November 12.
Although the Soyuz 5 is a new vehicle, it does not represent a major leap forward in technology. Rather it is, in many ways, a conventional reaction to commercial boosters developed in the West as well as the country’s prolonged war against Ukraine. Whether this strategy will be successful remains to be seen.
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