Space top management is announcing all new deadlines.
The most anticipated Russian space launch of 2026 is the launch of the "Soyuz-5" rocket from Baikonur. The history of the rocket is long: it is essentially a modernized Soviet "Zenit-3." However, the "Zenits" were made at the Ukrainian "Yuzhmash" — for Roscosmos, this is new technology.
The "Soyuz-5" was supposed to fly back at the end of last year. On November 12, 2025, Dmitry Bakanov claimed that the launch would take place "within a few weeks."
Now, Roscosmos Deputy Director General Dmitry Baranov claims at the "Korolev Readings" that "we should fly approximately by the end of March." Just like that, a few weeks in the final stage of preparation turn into, at best, several months.
To make it in two years
Several months is still not bad. Sometimes the difference stretches over an indefinite number of years. This is what happened with the "Amur-SPG" rocket project.
The development of the design project for the methane "Amur-SPG" with a reusable stage was commissioned by Roscosmos back in 2020. The rocket is being created as a commercial carrier. High reliability, payload mass, and economic efficiency are cited as the main priorities. Both the reusable stage and the choice of methane as fuel should contribute to this.
Reusable rockets are confidently conquering the world: their launches turn out to be much cheaper. Even the domestic company "Sputniks" plans to launch two test communication satellites with the help of Chinese private companies, not on "Soyuz" rockets.
Last summer, there was hope that Russia would soon join the elite reusable club as well: on June 3, 2025, Dmitry Bakanov stated that preparing its reusable rocket with methane engines would require 2.5 years without haste and with careful planning: the "Amur-SPG" was supposed to fly at the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028.
But the plans announced by Dmitry Baranov at the "Korolev Readings" differ significantly: now we are looking at "after 2030." When exactly — is unknown.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_E5H-OWt-w?si=rGH62Yj6U5areOQ1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
