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| Space launch vehicles of Russia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Space launch vehicles of Russia |
| Caption | A Soyuz (rocket family) launcher at Baikonur Cosmodrome |
| Manufacturer | RKK Energia, TsSKB-Progress, NPO Lavochkin, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| First flight | 1992 (post-Soviet era continuity) |
| Status | Active and retired families |
Space launch vehicles of Russia describe the heritage, design, production, and operational use of orbital launchers developed and fielded by the Russian Federation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Rooted in the Cold War-era programmes led by figures such as Sergey Korolyov and organizations like OKB-1 and TsKB-Progress, Russian launchers continue to serve civil, commercial, and military customers from sites including Baikonur Cosmodrome, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Vostochny Cosmodrome, and Sea Launch-derived facilities.
Russian launch vehicle development succeeded technologies from the Soviet space program era such as the R-7 Semyorka ICBM lineage, the Proton (rocket) heavy launcher, and the N1 (rocket)‑era lessons. Post‑1991 institutions including Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, RKK Energia, and Roscosmos reorganized design bureaus like TsSKB-Progress and Lavochkin Association to maintain launch capability for programmes such as Mir, International Space Station, and commercial satellite constellations like Glonass. International agreements such as the Lisbon Declaration era cooperation and export mechanisms influenced deliveries to customers including Arianespace, Intelsat, and defense entities like Ministry of Defence (Russia) successor structures.
Russian launch vehicles are commonly classified by payload class and design lineage. Key families include the Soyuz (rocket family), derived from the R-7 Semyorka ballistic missile; the Proton (rocket), a hypergolic heavy launcher from Khrunichev; the Angara (rocket family), modular kerolox designs from Progress Rocket Space Centre; and the smaller Kosmos (rocket family) and Rokot derivatives based on UR-100N heritage. Additional lines include the Dnepr (rocket), a converted R-36M (SS-18 Satan) ICBM, and experimental or aborted projects such as Buran (spacecraft) launcher developments and the cancelled Rus-M.
The Soyuz-2 series (Soyuz-2.1a, Soyuz-2.1b, Soyuz-2.1v) remains the workhorse for crewed and uncrewed missions, launching Soyuz crew vehicles and Progress cargo ships to International Space Station. The Proton-M and its variants have launched large payloads including geostationary satellites for operators like Inmarsat and Eutelsat, as well as interplanetary probes such as Phobos-Grunt and missions to Luna concepts. The modular Angara family (Angara A5, Angara A1.2) is intended to replace legacy heavy lifters and enable launches from Vostochny Cosmodrome. The light launcher Rokot and converted ICBM Dnepr supported small‑satellite deployments for commercial providers including International Launch Services partners. Experimental vehicles and proposals include Soyuz-5 (formerly Irkutskified projects), Yenisei (rocket) concepts, and the Efir/Unions proposals.
Manufacturing centers for Russian launchers include facilities at Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center in Moscow Oblast, TsSKB-Progress in Samara Oblast, and NPO Lavochkin in Khimki. Engine development centers such as Khimki and Energomash (developer of the RD-180 and RD-170 families) underpin propulsion testing at stands tied to institutes like TsNIIMash. Primary launch sites are Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (leased by Roscosmos), Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Oblast, and the newer Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast. Sea-based ventures involved Sea Launch with international partners including Bohai Shipbuilding and S7 Space participation, while equatorial and foreign pads supported commercial customers via Arianespace collaborations.
Russian launchers have a legacy of milestones: the R-7 family launched Sputnik 1, enabling the first artificial satellite; the Soyuz (spacecraft) using Soyuz‑derived rockets has conducted continuous human spaceflight operations, ferrying crews during Shuttle–Mir and post‑Space Shuttle eras. Proton vehicles deployed major probes and commercial satellites for operators like EUTELSAT and Intelsat, while Angara test flights mark a modernization push. Notable failures such as the Soyuz MS-10 abort highlighted crew safety systems, and successful interplanetary ambitions include Soviet-era probes like Venera and more recent collaborative missions planned with agencies including European Space Agency entities.
Modernization efforts led by Roscosmos and industrial partners aim to phase in kerolox and modular designs (Angara) and replace aging hypergolic fleets from Khrunichev and TsSKB-Progress. Export customers include commercial satellite operators, national space agencies such as Indian Space Research Organisation collaborations historically, and defense partnerships in extradition cases with states formerly in the Commonwealth of Independent States. International collaboration spans integrated projects with European Space Agency, joint ventures like Sea Launch and commercial agreements with Arianespace and International Launch Services for global markets. Sanctions and geopolitics following events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022) have affected technology transfer, supply chains, and export dynamics.
Safety oversight involves entities such as Roscosmos and industrial accident bureaus within firms like Khrunichev and RKK Energia. High‑profile incidents—including Proton anomalies, Soyuz pad explosions, and the loss of missions like Phobos-Grunt—prompted investigations by commissions drawing experts from TsNIIMash, Central Design Bureau of Machine Building (TsKBM) heritage cadres, and foreign partners. Lessons from investigations influenced redesigns of control systems, propulsion components developed by NPO Energomash, and procedural changes at launch complexes at Baikonur and Plesetsk.