Russia Successfully Conducts Ground Ignition Test for First Stage of Soyuz-5 Rocket

　　 Roscosmos, the Russian state space corporation, announced on the 10th that the ground ignition test for the first stage of the new Soyuz-5 rocket was successful.

　　 In a post on the social media platform Telegram, Roscosmos stated that the Soyuz-5 rocket, equipped with the RD-171MV engine generating 800 tons of thrust, completed the first-stage ground ignition test at the Scientific Testing Center for Rocket and Space Industry that day. The test lasted for 160 seconds.

　　 Roscosmos said this test will lay the foundation for the planned launch of the Soyuz-5 rocket by the end of the year.

　　 According to a report by Russia's Izvestia on the 10th, the Soyuz-5 is a medium-lift launch vehicle under development as part of the "Baiterek" joint project between Russia and Kazakhstan. It is capable of delivering 17 tons of payload to low Earth orbit. The rocket's maiden launch is scheduled for late December this year at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It is expected to be fully operational by 2028 and will primarily be used for launching unmanned spacecraft into low Earth orbit.