{"id":62860,"date":"2026-07-17T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/?guid=29129e4c23d4448fbbb6cd5d3bb16463"},"modified":"2026-07-17T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:00:00","slug":"astronauts-just-launched-on-a-soyuz-rocket-with-an-energy-drink-ad-on-it-continuing-a-russian-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoo.central12.com\/fugic\/2026\/07\/17\/astronauts-just-launched-on-a-soyuz-rocket-with-an-energy-drink-ad-on-it-continuing-a-russian-tradition\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronauts just launched on a Soyuz rocket with an energy-drink ad on it, continuing a Russian tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n
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Astronauts just flew to Earth orbit space atop a rocket emblazoned with an energy-drink ad.<\/p>

The Soyuz MS-29<\/u><\/a> launch to the International Space Station<\/u><\/a> on Tuesday (July 14), from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome<\/u><\/a> in Kazakhstan, used a Soyuz rocket<\/u><\/a> festooned with ads for \u041b\u0438\u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0434 (\"Lemonade\") LIT ENERGY. The ads are visible in shots of the rocket's rollout on July 11, published here<\/u><\/a> and here<\/u><\/a> via NASA's Flickr account.<\/p>

The Soyuz used for the launch also featured drawings from children with cancer \u2014 as well as the phrase \"Life has no end\" \u2014 to advertise the Unity Charitable Foundation, according to a Russian-language state media report<\/u><\/a> machine-translated into English. The campaign is part of a series in support of the foundation that began in November 2025, the media report added.<\/p>

\"Zoomed-in<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Zoomed-in view of the above photo, highlighting the ad for Lit Energy. <\/span>(Image credit: NASA\/Bill Ingalls)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>

To be sure, the Russian space agency Roscosmos (like other space agencies) often adorns its rockets with colorful artwork and logos that may not necessarily result in payment. In June 2018, for example, a Soyuz launched with a FIFA World Cup logo<\/u><\/a> that may have been a publicity campaign<\/u><\/a> to advertise the soccer competition, which was occurring that month in Russia. <\/p>

While there have been some experiments by other space agencies regarding advertising \u2014 anyone remember the space cola wars<\/u><\/a>? \u2014 here are a few notable examples from Russia and its predecessor state, the Soviet Union.<\/p>