On the 3rd attempt, Russia launches Angara-A5 space rocket – 04/11/2024 – Science

Russia made this Thursday (11), for the first time, a flight with its Angara-A5 space rocket. The launch took place from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in the far east of the country, successfully placing a test payload into low orbit.

The launch of the Angara-A5, Russia’s first post-Soviet space rocket, aimed to highlight Moscow’s ambition to be a major space power and the growing importance of Vostochny, situated in the forests of the Amur region.

But two launches of the Angara rocket were aborted at the last minute, on Tuesday (9) and Wednesday (10), due to a malfunction in a pressurization system and then a problem with the air control system. engine launch.

To the relief of Russian space authorities, they were lucky for the third time this Thursday (11), just hours before Russia celebrates Cosmonaut Day. The date marks the day that, 63 years ago, Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union became the first man in outer space.

“The engine has started, the flight is normal,” said mission control as the rocket took off into space, reaching more than 25,000 kilometers per hour in minutes.

“The fuel tanks detached and then the central section detached and a test payload was placed into orbit,” Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, said.

The 54.5-meter three-stage rocket, with a mass of about 773 tons, can carry about 24.5 tons into space, according to Russia’s Kommersant newspaper.