Russia successfully launched a new heavy-lift rocket from its Far Eastern space complex on Thursday, following two aborted attempts earlier in the week. The Angara-A5 rocket was launched from the Vostochny spaceport, marking the fourth launch for this new rocket.
The first attempt on Tuesday was canceled just minutes before liftoff due to a failure in the pressurization system of the oxidizer tank. The second attempt on Wednesday was also aborted due to a flaw in the engine start control mechanism, likely caused by a programming error.
The Angara-A5 rocket is part of the new Angara family of rockets developed to replace the Soviet-designed Proton rockets. This heavy-lift version is intended for launching intelligence and communication satellites to geostationary orbits.
While Russia has historically relied on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for most of its space launches, the Vostochny spaceport has been developed as the preferred facility for Angara launches. The construction of Vostochny has faced delays, but it is now being utilized for important rocket launches.
The successful launch of the Angara-A5 rocket is a significant milestone for Russia’s space program and sets the stage for future missions, including Russia’s prospective lunar research program.
