Russia launches first Angara-A5 space rocket from Vostochny

11/4/2024 18:33

        Russia test launched its Angara-A5 rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome on Thursday for the first time after technical glitches prompted officials to abort missions at the very last minute for two days in a row.
        
        The launch of the Angara, a new post-Soviet launch vehicle, is intended to showcase Russia's post-Soviet space ambitions and the growing role played by Vostochny which sits in the forests of the Amur region of Russia's Far East.
        
        Russian space agency, Roscosmos, said on its live translation, "There is an engine start, the flight is normal. All systems are functioning normally."
        
        After minutes, the rocket was travelling at more than 25,000 kilometres per hour and entered orbit.
        
        Roscosmos said Angara-A5 launched with an test payload and had worked normally. The upper section separated and put the test payload into orbit.
        
        On Wednesday the test launch of the space rocket was cancelled due to a malfunction of the engine launch control system.