Russia’s second attempt to test-launch a new heavy-lift rocket from its Far Eastern space complex, the Vostochny spaceport, was recently aborted. The launch of the Angara-A5 rocket was canceled two minutes before its planned time due to a failure of the pressurization system of the oxidizer tank of the central block of the rocket. The national space agency, Roscosmos, announced that another launch attempt will be postponed for at least one day. This launch was to be the fourth for the Angara-A5, a heavy-lift version of the new Angara family of rockets developed to replace the Soviet-designed Proton rockets. The previous three launches were carried out from the Plesetsk launchpad in northwestern Russia.
The first attempt at the launch had also failed the day before, with Roscosmos head Yuri Borisov stating that the automatic safety system registered a flaw in the oxidizer tank pressurization system. This setback highlights the challenges faced by Russia in developing the Angara rockets and transitioning away from the Proton rockets. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia leased the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan and continued to use it for most of its space launches. Despite this, Russian authorities have been working on developing the Vostochny spaceport as the facility of choice for Angara launches. However, the construction of the new spaceport has experienced delays and has only seen limited use so far.
Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia has faced challenges in transitioning its space program to new facilities and rockets. The continued reliance on Baikonur Cosmodrome, leased from Kazakhstan, has been supplemented with the development of the Vostochny spaceport. This transition has been slow, with delays in the construction of the new facility and limited use compared to Baikonur. The recent abort of the Angara-A5 rocket launch from Vostochny highlights the difficulties faced by Roscosmos in establishing a reliable launch system for the Angara family of rockets, meant to replace the aging Proton rockets.
The aborted launch attempts of the Angara-A5 rocket mark a setback for Russia’s space program as it works towards transitioning to new, domestically-produced rockets. The delays and challenges faced by Roscosmos in the development of the Angara rockets underscore the complexities involved in updating and modernizing a space program. The reliance on older Soviet-designed rockets like Proton, alongside efforts to establish new launch facilities like Vostochny, represent a dual challenge for Russian authorities as they seek to maintain their space capabilities.
As Russia continues to work on its space program and launch capabilities, the aborted launch attempts of the Angara-A5 rocket serve as a reminder of the technical challenges and complexities involved in transitioning to new rockets and launch facilities. The postponement of the launch for at least one day underscores the meticulous planning and testing required for successful rocket launches. Despite the setbacks faced by Roscosmos in its efforts to establish the Angara family of rockets, the continued development and testing of new launch vehicles demonstrate Russia’s commitment to advancing its space program and maintaining its position as a key player in the global aerospace industry.
