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)
