Russia aborts launch of heavy-lift rocket Angara-A5 for the second time

Russia, on Wednesday (Apr 10) aborted the test launch of its Angara-A5 new heavy-lift rocket for the second time this week from its Far Eastern space complex, Vostochny Cosmodrome.

What happened?

“The command to cancel the launch has been issued,” said an announcement made through loudspeakers just two minutes before its planned time of 0900 GMT. The reason for stopping the launch at the last minute was not immediately known.

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The state news agency RIA-Novosti said the launch was called off after the failure of the pressurisation of the oxidiser tank of the central block of the rocket, reported the Associated Press.

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This comes a day after an issue with the pressurising system of the rocket’s oxidiser tank forced a last-minute cancellation of the launch.

After the cancellation of Tuesday’s launch, the Russian state space agency Roscosmos, took to Telegram and said that the launch will take place on Wednesday.

The cancellations also mark yet another setback in a project that has reportedly witnessed several manufacturing delays and technical issues.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Angara project has major significance for the country’s national security.

About the Angara-A5

The launch of Angara-A5 was set to be the first for this type of rocket at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia’s new launch site located in the forests of the Amur region in the country’s Far East.

Angara-A5 can reportedly deliver a heavier payload to orbit if launched from Vostochny since it is located closer to the equator.

The 42.7-metre Angara launch vehicle is capable of carrying payloads weighing more than 20 tonnes into orbit.

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Vostochny is also the country’s first and only post-Soviet spacecraft launch site, other than the Plesetsk launchpad, a Soviet-era facility in northwestern Russia which has seen three successful test launches of the Angara rocket.

The launch was to be the fourth for the Angara-A5, a heavy-lift version of the new Angara family of rockets which were developed to replace the Soviet-era Proton rockets.

(With inputs from agencies)