Roscosmos set to launch Angara A5 after back to back aborts

Launch Overview

The Angara A5's test flight, named the Vostochny Angara Test Flight, was scheduled for April 9, 2024, at 09:00 a.m. UTC from Site 1A at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast, Russia.
Despite the excitement surrounding the launch, the initial attempt was aborted just two minutes before the scheduled liftoff due to a flaw detected in the oxidizer tank pressurization system. The automatic safety system engaged, prompting the cancellation. However, Roscosmos officials, including Yuri Borisov, head of the state space corporation, remained optimistic, scheduling the next launch attempt on Thursday, 11th April at 14:30 GMT.

The launch was to be the fourth for the Angara-A5, a heavy-lift version of the new Angara family of rockets that has been developed to replace the Soviet-designed Proton rockets.

Due to its location closer to the equator, Angara-A5 can deliver a heavier payload to orbit if launched from Vostochny, Russia's first and only post-Soviet spacecraft launch site, than from Plesetsk, an Soviet-era facility where it has had three successful test launches of the Angara rocket.

The setback follows the failure of a Russian moon mission last August, its first in 47 years, when the spacecraft crashed into the moon.

Technical Specifications

The Angara A5 is equipped with four URM-1 (Universal Rocket Module) strap-on boosters, each powered by RD-191 engines. The rocket consists of three stages, aiming to reach Low Earth Orbit (LEO). For this test flight, the rocket carried an upper stage called "Orion," which is speculated to be similar to the Persey stage used in previous missions. The 42.7-metre Angara launch vehicle is capable of carrying payloads bigger than 20 tonnes into orbit.
However, for this test launch, the rocket will be carrying a mass simulator as payload.

Significance of the Launch

The successful deployment of the Angara A5 would solidify Russia's position in the modern space race, providing a versatile and robust platform for future missions, including crewed flights and deep space exploration. The Angara A5 project has faced numerous delays and challenges, but this launch from Vostochny is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the Russian space program. This mission is particularly noteworthy as it is the first test launch of the Angara A5 from this cosmodrome, Russia's newest launch site located in the forests of the Amur region in Russia's Far East. The previous three launches were carried out from the Plesetsk launchpad in northwestern Russia.

Looking Ahead

President Vladimir Putin has grand ambitions for Russia's space program, including planned construction of a new Russian space station by 2027, and has described the Angara project as having huge significance for national security.
As the Angara A5 program continues to develop, the world watches with anticipation. The success of this heavy-lift rocket could open new possibilities for space travel and satellite deployment, contributing to our understanding of the cosmos and enhancing global communication networks.

By Azhar