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Anatoly Zak

@anatolyzak.bsky.social
1.8K followers 110 following 961 posts

RussianSpaceWeb.com

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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Sputnik day: My combo of movie frames forms a new tall view of the R-7 missile on a monumental open pad in Tyuratam in 1957. It was a very bulky weapon, but on Oct. 4 of that year, it became the world's first space launcher. FULL STORY OF SPUTNIK: russianspaceweb.com/sputnik.html
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The 310th mission in the ISS project is underway: russianspaceweb.com/iss_chronolo...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
More than half a century after the first Moon landing, we are finally getting a better idea how the Apollo's Soviet rival would really look like in space had it make it there... For starters, no green thermal blankets. Stay tuned for much more! CONTEXT: russianspaceweb.com/l3.html
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Moscow-based Skobeltsin NIIYaF nuclear physics institute reconfirms its plans for a small-class mission to asteroid Apophis, sets launch date for the end of 2028: russianspaceweb.com/apophis.html
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
While everybody is focused on "Russian Starlink," Moscow is also massively investing in modernization of its orbital imaging assets. Details (subscription): russianspaceweb.com/insider-cont...
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Reposted by Anatoly Zak
SpacePolicyOnline @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Uncrewed Starliner-1 no earlier than Dec 2026. Crewed Starliner-2 "in 2028." Woody Hoburg will command that one. Need to redesign the poppets.
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Some 22 years in the making, our new section on the Soviet counterpart to the Apollo — the LOK lunar transport vehicle — is now online. In-depth info from archival sources, rare photos and, of course, digital reconstructions in unprecedented detail and color fidelity: russianspaceweb.com/lok.html
russianspaceweb.com
Lunar Orbital Vehicle of the L3 expeditionary complex
History and design of the Lunar Orbital Vehicle, LOK, from the Soviet L3 expeditionary complex by Anatoly Zak | Editor: Alain Chabot
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The "Russian Starlink" developer confirms work on the new-generation satellites at Buro 1440. Context on the site (subscription): russianspaceweb.com/insider-cont...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
In his report to the Prime Minister yesterday, Roskosmos head announced ~60 satellites launched in 2026 and the total in orbital grouping reaching ~400, though 300 satellites were claimed to be in orbit in 2025. So, not sure how this math works. CONTEXT: russianspaceweb.com/2026.html
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Russia's first "private" radar imager undergoes testing in orbit with potential implications for the military. DETAILS (subscription): russianspaceweb.com/insider-cont...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Classic of rocketry: Introduction to the RD-107 engine. (Subscription, Part I): russianspaceweb.com/insider-cont...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Progress MS-35 docks at ISS. DETAILS, CONTEXT: russianspaceweb.com/progress-ms-...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
NASA: Progress MS-35 cargo ship is on track for docking with the ISS in around 45 minutes. Watch it live here: www.youtube.com/live/v03RjDN...
youtube.com
Progress 96 Cargo Ship Docking
YouTube video by NASA
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Roskosmos confirms the Soyuz-2-1b launch with a military spacecraft from Plesetsk. No time of liftoff was given as becoming customary in the new reality. Details: russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft-m...
russianspaceweb.com
Soyuz launch from Plesetsk on Sept. 17, 2026
Soyuz-2 launch from Plesetsk on Sept. 17, 2026
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Multiple eyewitnesses report an apparent Soyuz rocket launch with a military payload from Plesetsk, matching an opening of the window reported in newly announced air and sea traffic restrictions. Developing story...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A Soyuz-2-1b rocket with the Progress MS-35 cargo ship lifts off from Baikonur on the ISS resupply mission. Mission progress: russianspaceweb.com/progress-ms-...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A launch vehicle for the Progress MS-35 mission is being fueled for launch, but so far, there is no traditional live broadcast announcement from either NASA or Roskosmos. (Maybe waiting for an official permission from Zelensky: russianspaceweb.com/progress-ms-...
russianspaceweb.com
Progress MS-35 to resupply ISS
History of the Progress MS-35 mission to the ISS
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
50 YEARS AGO TODAY: russianspaceweb.com/soyuz22.html
russianspaceweb.com
Soyuz flies its last solo mission
Soyuz-22 mission
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Progress MS-35 to lift off on Wednesday. Will chronicle it here: russianspaceweb.com/progress-ms-...
russianspaceweb.com
Progress MS-35 to resupply ISS
History of the Progress MS-35 mission to the ISS
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Soyuz rocket with the Progress MS-35 cargo ship rolled back to the launch pad this morning for a second launch attempt on Wednesday, according to Kazakh media: russianspaceweb.com/2026.html#pr...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Comparison of the DOS-1 (Salyut-1) space station (left) and the follow-on DOS-2, which was to be Salyut-2 but never announced to the world because its launch failed. Find five differences. FULL STORY: russianspaceweb.com/salyut-dos2....
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The International Space Summit this week was held in Grand Palais in Paris, which was also a site of a huge Roskosmos and Russian defense industry exhibit in 2010 — something totally unthinkable today. Many pics I took there are preserved on RussianSpaceWeb.com, but here are a few unpublished:
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Reposted by Anatoly Zak
ESA Exploration @exploration.esa.int · 10/09/2026
🚀 Europe is taking a major step towards autonomous cargo transportation in low Earth orbit. @esa.int has signed a contract with The Exploration Company under ALADDIN for an initial Nyx demonstration mission to the International Space Station and future cargo services. 🔗 www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
A photo of the International Space Station captured by ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet in 2021. Credits: NASA/ESA–T. Pesquet
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Some visible damage to a Proton-PM facility in Novye Lyady (Perm Region) after an unexplained fire:
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Russian Deputy Prime Minister said that Russian hardware, such as spacesuits and cosmonaut seats, could be used in the Indian space program and joint flights to Russian and Indian space stations are also possible, according to Interfax.
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Russia kept Soviet-era anti-satellite vehicles at a secret facility in Baikonur (visible on the right on my photo below) long after the Cold War, according to a semi-cryptic account surfaced on the NK forum and which I put into context here: russianspaceweb.com/is.html#mu
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Reposted by Anatoly Zak
SpacePolicyOnline @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The Progress MS-35/96P launch is, indeed, postponed according to the NASA Live website that lists upcoming NASA programming.
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
NASA added the following line to its Progress MS-35 launch coverage announcement (which was suppose to proceed in around an hour, according to original plans): www.nasa.gov/news-release...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Unofficially, I hear that the Progress MS-35 launch delay was caused by a hydraulics issue. The liftoff was supposed to take place tomorrow, but until now, there is no confirmation that it would not take place from Roskosmos. Context: russianspaceweb.com/2026.html#pr...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Despite reported launch delay of the Progress MS-35 mission, Progress MS-33 departed the ISS as planned to make way for a fresh delivery: russianspaceweb.com/progress-ms-...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Multiple unofficial Russian and Kazakh sources report that Wednesday's launch of Progress MS-35 to the ISS had to be postponed for an undetermined time and its launch vehicle returned to processing building due to a problem with the 3rd stage: russianspaceweb.com/2026.html#pr...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
European (sans USSR/RF) orbital rocket/launch site firsts: Diamant/Hammaguir (Algeria): 1965 Black Arrow/Woomera (Australia): 1971 Ariane-1-4/Kourou (French Guiana): 1979 Ariane-5: 1997* Vega: 2012 Ariane-6: 2024 Spectrum/Andoya (Norway): 2026: russianspaceweb.com/chronology_X...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The Progress MS-35 cargo ship was rolled out to the launch pad at Site 31 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, this morning, in preparation for a liftoff to the International Space Station on Wednesday: russianspaceweb.com/2026.html#pr...
russianspaceweb.com
Space exploration in 2026
Space exploration in 2025 by Anatoly Zak
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Soviet concepts (including the adopted version on the right) for incorporating the upgraded propulsion section of the Soyuz spacecraft into the hull of the Almaz space station to form the original Salyut design. CONTEXT: russianspaceweb.com/salyut1-orig...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
NASA copverage of Progress MS-35 launch: www.nasa.gov/news-release...
nasa.gov
NASA to Cover Progress 96 Spacecraft Launch, Docking - NASA
The unpiloted Progress 96 resupply spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 12:15 p.m. EDT (9:15 p.m. Baikonur time), Wednesday, Sept. 9, on a Soyuz rocket from
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Surfaced procurement documents indicate that ground terminals (not the one on the photo) for "Russian Starlink" would be much bulkier, heavier and more expensive than their US equivalents, hopefully, severely restricting their use in Ukraine. Details on the site (subscription): russianspaceweb.com
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The Proton-PM plant, which produces RD-191/191M engines for the Angara family of space launchers and RD-274-based engines for the Sarmat ICBMs, is on fire. There were no reports of drone activity in the region: russianspaceweb.com/rd191.html
russianspaceweb.com
The RD-191 engine
History of the RD-181 engine by Anatoly Zak
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
RKK Energia reports the Progress MS-35 launch campaign going into irreversible operations ahead of the next cargo mission to the ISS on September 9. The Soyuz launch vehicle for mission is also being assembled. Details: russianspaceweb.com/2026.html#pr...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Another set of NOTAMs (launch warnings issued earlier this month) have materialized today with a test launch of a Topol-M-based Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from Plesetsk toward an impact site on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Context: russianspaceweb.com/topolm.html
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Voronezh startup showcases a mockup of the 2nd stage booster for its planned micro-launcher closely matching the design we reported about last year and featuring the NK-3 engine largely borrowed from Soyuz rocket's vernier thrusters... MORE (subscription): russianspaceweb.com/insider-cont...
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Reposted by Anatoly Zak
T.S. Kelso @tskelso.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
CelesTrak has GP data for 2 objects from the launch (2026-194) of GLONASS-K1 19L atop a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Aug 24 at 0240 UTC: www.russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft-m.... Data for the launch can be found at: celestrak.org/NORAD/elemen....
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The Russian military and Roskosmos never identified a payload in yesterday's Soyuz launch, but the US Space Force did it for them. It is confirmed as Fregat with a fresh GLONASS satellite. FULL STORY: russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft-m...
russianspaceweb.com
Soyuz rocket delivers fresh GLONASS navsat
Soyuz-2-1b launch from Plesetsk on Aug. 24, 2026, with a GLONASS satellite
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A combined chart showing "Russian Starlink" orbit-boosting progress with the March 24 launch on the left and the July 19 launch on the right. None reached expected ~800-kilometer (stable) orbit, but a group of ~14 satellites is forming a "chain" at an altitude of ~500 kilometers:
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The "Russian Starlink" is about to lose two more satellites to atmospheric drag, while the rest in the constellation's second group seemingly struggles climbing to a more-or-less stable orbit. Details: russianspaceweb.com/buro1440-202...
russianspaceweb.com
Launch from Plesetsk delivers 2nd batch of Buro 1440 payloads into low orbit
Buro 1440 launch on July 19, 2026
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
50 years ago today: Soyuz-21 prematurely departs the Salyut-5 space station after its overworked crew runs into health problems. FULL STORY: russianspaceweb.com/soyuz21.html
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft-m...
russianspaceweb.com
Soyuz rocket delivers milsat from Plesetsk
Soyuz-2-1b launch from Plesetsk on Aug. 24, 2026
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Fresh reports of a possible air attack on the Plesetsk spaceport coinciding with known preparation of a military space launch from the facility: russianspaceweb.com/2026.html
russianspaceweb.com
Space exploration in 2026
Space exploration in 2025 by Anatoly Zak
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
General Staff of Ukrainian Armed Forces published its own interpretation of the strike on RKTs Progress claiming that the largest damage affected the aircraft hardware servicing hall and the second hit damaged the Soyuz rocket engine assembly hall. CONTEXT: russianspaceweb.com/soyuz_lv_202...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I am happy to say that our one-of-a-kind subscription section on RussianSpaceWeb.com reached 500 pages, many of which have been updated over the years, so with a just $50 subscription, you can access this incredible archive of behind-the-scene information for mere 10 cents per article. (cont.)...
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Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
This is an appropriate time to post our annual page on the Soyuz rocket history. We will track all the latest developments here. Please check it periodically for more details: russianspaceweb.com/soyuz_lv_202...
russianspaceweb.com
Soyuz rocket producer hit
Soyuz rocket family in 2026
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