Soyuz-5 - GMM - Baikonur - NET March 2026

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Well the recent updates on this launch, or lack thereof, doesn’t seem to point at readiness for a launch attempt within this month. Indeed there appears to be recent rumors of this slipping into 2026 on N-K Forums.

[Salo]

https://t.me/rt_space/1507
Google translate:

RocketTrip
Soyuz-5 will not fly in 2025; launch delayed until March 2026.

[owais.usmani]

https://t.me/rt_space/1507
Google translate:

RocketTrip
Soyuz-5 will not fly in 2025; launch delayed until March 2026.

Delayed till March 2026 likely means they will most probably ship the rocket back to Samara to fix out some defects discovered during launch preparations in Baikonur.

[Comet]

Mod edit to add permalink and source information.
https://twitter.com/robert_savitsky/status/2004478602977657228
Primary Source: Roscosmos via unlinked Russian Media.

[catdlr]

I wanted to add this one extra view of the "Hot Staging" area for this LV.  For future reference with other LVs.

https://x.com/katlinegrey/status/2004565569635504299

Katya Pavlushchenko
@katlinegrey
#Soyuz5 in an Assembly and testing facility on Site 42 of Baikonur cosmodrome is waiting for launch, which is now scheduled NET March 2026.
📸 by Ivan Timoshenko

[russianhalo117]

https://t.me/rt_space/1507
Google translate:

RocketTrip
Soyuz-5 will not fly in 2025; launch delayed until March 2026.

Delayed till March 2026 likely means they will most probably ship the rocket back to Samara to fix out some defects discovered during launch preparations in Baikonur.

Incorrect. Instead TEL-1 and its support railcars (classed by EAC member states as special railcars) final delivery was delayed by the manufacturer and their shipping company (as well as awaiting receipt of EAC Certification for Russia and Eurasian Union: EAC (Eurasian Economic Union) Technical Regulation: TR CU 001/2011 and other applicable certifications for operations on Russian Railways and Kazakhstan Railways including cosmodromes) thus integrated pad commissioning is delayed.
Russianspaceweb.com subscription paywalled article:
Soyuz-5 delayed by ground equipment

[hoku]

<snip> final delivery was delayed by the manufacturer and their shipping company ((...) thus integrated pad commissioning is delayed.
<snip>

Roscomos seems to indicate that they also need to carry out additional tests:

"The project partners have decided to adjust the first launch schedule and conduct additional checks of both onboard systems and ground equipment.

The additional checks ensure:
+ stable operation of the systems in normal and abnormal modes
+ maximum readiness for flight tests
+ optimal conditions for a safe and successful first launch."

"Партнёры проекта приняли решение о корректировке сроков первого пуска и проведении дополнительных проверок как бортовых систем, так и наземного оборудования.

Дополнительные проверки обеспечивают:
+ устойчивую работу систем в штатных и нештатных режимах
+ максимальную готовность к лётным испытаниям
+ оптимальные условия для безопасного и успешного первого пуска."

https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/19000

[russianhalo117]

<snip> final delivery was delayed by the manufacturer and their shipping company ((...) thus integrated pad commissioning is delayed.
<snip>

Roscomos seems to indicate that they also need to carry out additional tests:

"The project partners have decided to adjust the first launch schedule and conduct additional checks of both onboard systems and ground equipment.

The additional checks ensure:
+ stable operation of the systems in normal and abnormal modes
+ maximum readiness for flight tests
+ optimal conditions for a safe and successful first launch."

"Партнёры проекта приняли решение о корректировке сроков первого пуска и проведении дополнительных проверок как бортовых систем, так и наземного оборудования.

Дополнительные проверки обеспечивают:
+ устойчивую работу систем в штатных и нештатных режимах
+ максимальную готовность к лётным испытаниям
+ оптимальные условия для безопасного и успешного первого пуска."

https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/19000

The transporter errector launcher railcar and its support train  of railcars are not at the cosmodrome to move the launcher to the pad to commission the TEL, the pad, and launcher. The TEL train is the mandatory ground equipment needed perform the highly automated launch campaign modernised from Zenit. They can do simulations using the launcher in its MIK at Site 42. They cant really do anything else without the TEL.

[owais.usmani]

Is this also launching with an upper stage like Blok-DM or Freget-SB? or just the 2 rocket stages and then dummy payload on top?

[russianhalo117]

Is this also launching with an upper stage like Blok-DM or Freget-SB? or just the 2 rocket stages and then dummy payload on top?

Just the basic two stage version with GMM - Gruzovo-Masovoy Maket or Габаритно-массовый макет (mass-size evaluation model).

[owais.usmani]

Is this also launching with an upper stage like Blok-DM or Freget-SB? or just the 2 rocket stages and then dummy payload on top?

Just the basic two stage version with a mass simulator.

Why is that? All the Angara-5 test flights with dummy payloads also had Briz-M or Blok-DM upper stages, why not Soyuz-5 following the same testing path?

[russianhalo117]

Is this also launching with an upper stage like Blok-DM or Freget-SB? or just the 2 rocket stages and then dummy payload on top?

Just the basic two stage version with a mass simulator.

Why is that? All the Angara-5 test flights with dummy payloads also had Briz-M or Blok-DM upper stages, why not Soyuz-5 following the same testing path?

Like Angara-A5 and Zenit, Soyuz-5 is designed to have an optional upper stage. Angara-A5 just has yet to fly a mission without an upper stage.