New Soyuz-5 rocket to be launched in Baiterek project in Dec 2025 - Roscosmos head

MOSCOW. July 9 (Interfax) - The new Soyuz-5 rocket as part of the Russian-Kazakh Baiterek project will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in December 2025, Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov said.

"We will be implementing the Baiterek project at the Baikonur Cosmodrome together with Kazakh partners until the end of this year. The Kazakh side has pledged to build the launch pad, while Roscosmos has pledged to launch the new Soyuz-5 rocket. We have scheduled the launch for December this year," Bakanov said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

The methane-fueled Amur rocket is another promising area of Roscosmos' activity, he said.

"A number of countries are in possession of the reentry first stage technology. We are moving in the same direction. As you know, the Amur rocket to run on methane, liquefied natural gas, will have the reentry first stage," Bakanov said.