The Angara-A5 heavy-lift rocket, equipped with the Orion upper stage, lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome at noon as part of a strategic test program. Officials reported that the launch proceeded as planned and the Orion stage separated from the main booster, beginning the process of injecting a test payload into the target orbit.
Earlier activity at Vostochny included the first test of the Amur launch complex, a key facility in the Amur Region designed to support heavy-lift missions. The development work focused on ensuring the readiness of the Angara-A5 vehicle for spaceflight, with teams conducting systems checks and readiness reviews ahead of flight operations. A late-stage issue with the central oxidizer tank pressurization system had previously prompted the earliest planned launch attempts to be postponed as a precautionary measure.
Flight planning for the sequence included multiple postponements. A launch on April 10 was cancelled after Roscosmos cited a malfunction in the engine start control system as the likely cause. This pause allowed engineers to diagnose the root causes and implement corrective actions before the next planned window.
The fourth attempt to launch, scheduled for April 11, reflected a concerted effort from the mission team to resolve the technical gaps identified during the earlier postponements. Denis Kravchenko, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, noted that the issues flagged during the delays had been addressed, enabling continued progress toward a successful flight. The overall program has undergone rigorous review to ensure that all subsystems meet the required safety and performance standards before reattempting liftoff.
Historically, Roscosmos has documented numerous milestones involving the Angara family, with each mission contributing to the broader objective of expanding Russia’s capabilities in space launch technologies. The current test program emphasizes the integration of the Angara-A5 vehicle with the Orion upper stage to validate propulsion, guidance, and payload deployment under representative mission conditions. Officials continue to monitor telemetry and ground systems in real time to verify stability across stages and confirm that the test payload reaches its designated orbit with precision.
In the broader context, the Vostochny Cosmodrome serves as a cornerstone of Russia’s space infrastructure, offering a modern spaceport capable of supporting multi-stage launch campaigns. The Amur launch complex is designed to enhance regional capabilities, promote domestic manufacturing, and bolster national space resilience. The ongoing sequence of tests and flight opportunities demonstrates the commitment to advancing heavy-lift technology and expanding access to space for scientific, commercial, and strategic purposes.