Launches / Soyuz 2.1b
Soyuz 2.1b, flown by Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
This was Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)'s 5th launch of 2026, and its 343rd in all.
Counting every operator, it was the 171st orbital launch attempt anywhere in 2026, and the fourth from 43/4 (43R).
Note: Payload identities uncertain. Batch of 16 Rassvet-3 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Russian Byuro-1440 (Bureau 1440) constellation for broadband high-speed internet access in Russia.
Soyuz-2 is the 21st-century version of the Russian Soyuz rocket. In its basic form, it is a three-stage carrier rocket for placing payloads into low Earth orbit. The 2.1b version adds an upgraded engine (RD-0124) with improved performance to the second stage.
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, commonly known as Roscosmos, is the governmental body responsible for the space science program of the Russian Federation and general aerospace research. Soyuz has many launch locations the Russian sites are Baikonur, Plesetsk and Vostochny however Ariane also purchases the vehicle and launches it from French Guiana.
343 launches so far, 332 of them successful. The last 67 in a row went to plan.
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