The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. Located in the Kazakh city of Baikonur, it is the largest operational space launch facility in terms of area. All Russian crewed spaceflights are launched from Baikonur.

Soyuz-5, also named Irtysh is a planned Russian rocket that is being developed by JSC SRC Progress, formerly within "Project Feniks." It will replace the capability of Zenit-2 and Proton Medium. It will initially be a two-stage rocket, but Soyuz 5 can be enhanced with an optional Blok DM-03 upper stage for geostationary missions. The rocket is loosely based on the Zenit launch vehicle with a RD-171MV engine on the 1st stage, enlarged to 4.1 m in diameter, while the 2nd stage is powered by 2 RD-0124MS engines derived from engines used on the 3rd stage of the Soyuz-2.1b. The Soyuz-5 can lift 17 tonnes to a Low Earth orbit.