On Thursday, Russia conducted a successful inaugural test-launch of its Angara-A5 space rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome located in the Far East, achieving a milestone by placing a mock payload into low Earth orbit. This launch marks a significant step in Russia’s efforts to introduce a new post-Soviet era launch system.
The Angara-A5 launch underscores Russia’s aspirations to maintain its status as a leading space nation and highlights the increasing strategic value of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, nestled in the Amur region’s forested expanse. This initiative is part of Russia’s broader aim to modernize its space launch capabilities with the Angara-A5, its first post-Soviet space vehicle.
However, the path to Thursday’s success was not without its challenges, as two previous attempts to launch the Angara rocket were halted at the last moment due to technical issues. These included a malfunction in the pressurising system followed by a problem with the engine’s launch-control system, leading to the cancellations on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Despite these setbacks, Russian space authorities finally achieved success on their third attempt, coinciding with the eve of Cosmonaut Day. This day is a significant national celebration in Russia, commemorating the historic occasion 63 years ago when Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union became the first human to journey into outer space.