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Roscosmos Successfully Launches New Angara A5 Heavy-Lift Rocket
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, achieved a significant milestone with the successful orbital test launch of its latest Angara A5 heavy-lift rocket. This successful launch signifies a remarkable advancement in Russia’s space exploration capabilities and marks the beginning of a new era in their spaceflight endeavors.
Launch Details
The Angara A5 rocket took off on April 11, embarking on its fourth orbital test launch and also marking its inaugural launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome located in Russia’s far east. Standing at an impressive 179 feet tall (54.5 meters), this entirely Russian-made rocket utilizes a more environmentally friendly fuel compared to its predecessor, the Proton-M.
Following the launch, Roscosmos confirmed the flawless performance of the rocket in a Telegram post. This successful launch initiated the flight design assessments for the Amur space rocket featuring Angara heavy-lift launch vehicles at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
The recent launch came after the initial attempt on April 9 was called off, leading to a postponed second attempt on April 10. With this being the fourth launch of the Angara A5 rocket, it is worth noting that the first test flight occurred in 2014, followed by a second in 2020. In 2021, a test mission encountered challenges when the rocket deviated from its intended orbit due to a second-stage anomaly.
Significance of the Angara A5 Rocket
Roscosmos emphasized the critical national significance of the Angara space rocket complex (KRK), stating that its development is a pivotal national objective. The successful commissioning of the Angara spacecraft will enable Russia to launch a diverse range of spacecraft from its soil, ensuring independent and reliable access to space for the nation.
The Angara A5 rocket’s latest mission included the deployment of a experimental cubesat named Gagarinets, developed by Avant Space. This satellite aims to test a laser system capable of projecting images, such as QR codes or advertisements, into the night sky. Avant Space envisions a constellation of satellites orbiting at altitudes ranging from 300 to 372 miles (500 to 600 kilometers), projecting discernible images even in urban areas with high light pollution. These captivating artificial sky displays are expected to be visible to millions for a duration of three to five minutes.
Overall, the successful launch of the Angara A5 rocket signifies a significant step forward in Russia’s space exploration endeavors, showcasing their technological prowess and commitment to advancing space innovation.
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