For Stan Rudenko, rockets were never a distant dream. They were part of everyday life.
As a child growing up beside the Baikonur Cosmodrome — the world’s largest spaceport — Rudenko walked past a full-scale Soyuz launcher on his way to school, surrounded by engineers, astronauts and monuments to space pioneers in a town built exclusively for the Soviet Union’s space programme.
Today, at 42, Rudenko is the chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based Aspire Space, leading one of the UAE’s most ambitious private-sector missions: building a fully reusable rocket system designed and manufactured in the Emirates.
“Everything in our lives revolved around launches,” Rudenko told The Gulf Talk News. “I still remember the Buran spaceplane landing, escorted by fighter jets. It felt like a moment of absolute national triumph.”
From Baikonur to the Gulf
For decades, Baikonur was the beating heart of the Soviet space empire — the launch site of the world’s first satellite and the first human to journey into space. Rudenko’s father played a senior role in the Zenit rocket programme, placing the family at the centre of one of the most advanced aerospace ecosystems of its time.
But following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 and Kazakhstan’s independence, activity at Baikonur sharply declined. Like thousands of others, the Rudenko family eventually left the once-thriving space town.
Although his fascination with space never faded, Rudenko initially pursued a different career path. He graduated from a leading law school in St Petersburg and worked with multinational firms before returning to the industry that had shaped his childhood.
“Life brought me back to rockets,” he said. “Now, we’re building something entirely new — from the UAE.”
Made in the UAE: Aspire Space’s Vision
Originally founded in Luxembourg, Aspire Space has relocated its headquarters to the UAE, aligning itself with the country’s fast-growing space ecosystem and long-term ambition to become a global space hub.
At the centre of Aspire’s strategy is Oryx, a two-stage, fully reusable orbital launch system designed for satellite deployment, space-station resupply, in-orbit research missions and cargo return to Earth.
Unlike conventional reusable rockets, where only the first-stage booster is recovered, both stages of Oryx are designed to return safely to Earth.
“This is not just a rocket — it’s a reusable space vehicle,” Rudenko said. “The second stage is a fully capable spacecraft. Launch is only the beginning of the mission.”
Driving Down Costs Through True Reusability
Rudenko believes true reusability will transform the economics of spaceflight, creating a cycle where costs fall as launch frequency rises — similar to commercial aviation.
“It’s neither economical nor sustainable to throw expensive hardware into the ocean,” he said. “The future is about making space systems work repeatedly.”
The rocket will be powered by methalox engines developed in partnership with Dubai-based LEAP 71, a company specialising in artificial-intelligence-driven propulsion design.
Aspire’s engineering team includes veterans from historic programmes such as Zenit, Energia–Buran and Sea Launch, which once defined the Soviet Union’s heavy-lift capabilities.
Chief technology officer Sergey Alekseevich Sopov said the project draws heavily on decades of proven aerospace expertise.
“Reusability isn’t just about landing a rocket,” he said. “It’s about returning its value to the economy. Every component is designed with service life, rapid turnaround and digital traceability in mind.”
Launch Plans: UAE, Kazakhstan — and Beyond
Aspire Space plans to operate two launch sites — one in the UAE to ensure sovereign access to space, and another in Kazakhstan to support high-frequency commercial missions using established flight corridors.
While the UAE launch location remains under discussion, Rudenko confirmed the company is also closely monitoring Oman’s Etlaq spaceport as a potential regional option.
The company aims to establish a full manufacturing and testing ecosystem within the UAE, beginning with engine and full-stage test facilities.
“We have an ambitious timeline for fire-testing real hardware,” Rudenko said. “These facilities are critical to making reusable spaceflight a reality.”
Aspire Space will showcase its rocket model at the UAE Space Pavilion during the Dubai Airshow, underscoring the country’s growing role in the global space economy — and marking a symbolic journey from the Soviet launch towers of Baikonur to the deserts of the Emirates.
