Success
Kosmos (Unknown Payload)
Government/Top Secret
Russian Space Forces(VKS)Government
Soyuz 2.1b Volga
SSOorbit
Unknown satellite(s) for the Russian military.
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#7,261
VKS Mission
#155
Pad Launch
#328
Location Launch
#1,684
Designator
2026-083
Launch Window
NET
Apr 16, 2026, 11:17 PM
Precision
Minute
Schedule Changes
4 updates
Schedule Updates
4 entries- Current scheduleCurrentMoved up 1mApr 17, 2026, 3:45 PMApr 16, 2026, 11:17 PM(Minute)Success
- Schedule updatedDelayed 18mApr 17, 2026, 4:17 AMApr 16, 2026, 11:18 PM(Minute)In Flight
- Schedule updatedMoved up 13d 1hApr 17, 2026, 1:15 AMApr 16, 2026, 11:00 PM(Hour)In FlightWindow: 9:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Initial scheduleApr 16, 2026, 12:03 PMApr 30, 2026, 12:00 AM(Month)TBD
Social Flight Log
- Apr 17, 2026, 3:41 PM
Launch success.
Source - Apr 17, 2026, 4:10 AM
Tweaked estimated launch time based on orbital tracking data.
Source - Apr 17, 2026, 12:47 AM
Liftoff. Note: Launch time is approximated. Payload identities and usage of upper stage is uncertain.
Source - Apr 11, 2026, 3:40 AM
Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload and launch vehicle variant identities uncertain. Launch expected between April 13/14 - 29/30 between 21:00-16:00 UTC daily.
Source
Soyuz 2.1b Volga Specs
Length
46.3 m
Diameter
2.95 m
Thrust
4,149 kN
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2026
Total Launches
1
Successful
1
Failed
0
Consecutive Success
1
Maiden flight: Apr 16, 2026
Russian Space Forces
The Russian Space Forces are a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and protection for Russia. Having been reestablished following August 1, 2015 merger between the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces after a 2011 dissolving of the branch. The Russian Space Forces were originally formed on August 10, 1992 and the creation of the Russian Armed Forces.
Founded
1992
Administrator
Commander: Aleksandr Golovko
Total Launches
156
Successful
148
Failed
8
Pending
1
Consecutive Success
68
Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport located in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk. Originally developed as an ICBM site for the R-7 missile, it also served for numerous satellite launches using the R-7 and other rockets. Its high latitude makes it useful only for certain types of launches, especially the Molniya orbits, so for much of the site's history it functioned as a secondary location, with most orbital launches taking place from Baikonur, in the Kazakh SSR. With the end of the Soviet Union, Baikonur became a foreign territory, and Kazakhstan charged $115 million usage fees annually. Consequently, Plesetsk has seen considerably more activity since the 2000s.
Timezone
Europe/Moscow
Local Launch Time
Apr 17, 2026, 2:17 AM
Total Launches
1,685
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
62.9256, 40.5778