Work on Soyuz-5 LV enters final stage - Russian govt

MOSCOW. Sept 8 (Interfax) - Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov has visited the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara and familiarized himself with the work on the Soyuz-5 launch vehicle, the government press service said on Saturday.

"The first deputy prime minister has familiarized himself with the enterprise's manufacturing capabilities and current and future projects and visited the welding and assembly shop, where a Soyuz-5 rocket is being made. This work has entered the final stage," the press service said.

Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov took part in the visit.

According to official information, the new launch vehicle will put spacecraft into sun-synchronous, highly elliptical, geostationary and geo-transition orbits. Soyuz-5 is powered by new engines designed by Roscosmos' Energomash. It will be able to bring 17 tonnes of payload to low near-Earth orbits.

Progress has full-cycle production of space hardware. It is a leading designer, manufacturer and operator of medium-lift launch vehicles.