Photo taken on April 7, 2016 shows the model of Soyuz-4 and Soyuz-5 Spacecraft docking at the Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)
MOSCOW, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia has started working on the creation of a new Soyuz-5 carrier rocket, director general of Russia's Roscosmos State Space Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Rogozin said Sunday.
"Works on the creation of the Soyuz-5 rocket kicked off at Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, Progress Rocket Space Center and NPO Energomash. Then we will begin work on a super-heavy rocket," Rogozin tweeted.
The new project will help mobilize Russia's entire rocket and space industry, get it updated and tap its powerful potential in design and production, he added.
Roscosmos has reportedly approved the conceptual design of the Soyuz-5 medium-class carrier rocket, which is expected to be created by 2021 and will serve as the base of a super heavy-lift launch vehicle.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the Roscosmos leadership that flight tests of Soyuz-5 carrier rockets would begin in 2022.
