Russia successfully tested its Angara-A5 space rocket for the first time on April 11, 2024. The test launch was conducted from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East of Russia. In fact, rocket test launches on April 9 and 10 were cancelled due to a malfunction in the pressurization system and a problem with the engine launch-control system.
Previous Launch Attempts and Cancellations
- Two previous launch attempts on April 9 and 10 were canceled due to technical issues.
- The April 9 launch was canceled due to a malfunction in the pressurization system, while the April 10 launch was canceled because of a problem with the engine launch-control system.
Third Test Launch a Success
- The April 11 launch was Russia’s third test of the Angara-A5 rocket, and it was successful.
- The launch coincided with Cosmonaut Day, which commemorates Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight 63 years ago.
Rocket Performance and Specifications
- The Angara-A5 rocket reached an altitude of more than 25,000 kilometers (15,500 miles) per hour within minutes of launch.
- The Angara-A5 is a three-stage rocket that stands 54.5 meters (178.81 feet) tall and weighs about 773 tons, with a payload capacity of 24.5 tons.
The Angara Project
- Russia launched the Angara project in 1991, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, to develop a domestically produced launch vehicle.
- The first Angara-A5 test flight took place in 2014, and a second test was conducted in 2020 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.
- A partial test of the Angara project in 2021 was unsuccessful.
Significance of the Angara Rocket
- The Angara-A5 is designed to replace Russia’s Proton launcher and maintain Russia’s access to space after the expiration of the lease on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2050.
- President Vladimir Putin has touted the Angara’s role in national security, although the project has faced significant delays and technical setbacks.
- Russia hopes to use the Angara’s cargo capabilities to deliver modules to a rival space station that it plans to build in the coming years.
