Angara-A5 Launch Marked a New Chapter in Russian Space Efforts
The General Director of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, hailed the first flight of the Angara-A5 heavy-lift rocket as a landmark moment not only for the space agency but for the entire nation. His remarks were carried by RIA News and echoed by many in the program’s workforce and supporters around the world.
In his address, Borisov congratulated the teams behind the Angara-A5 launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. He noted the perseverance of engineers who refused to quit after two earlier retry attempts were scrubbed. Each stop and restart became an opportunity to address vulnerabilities, revise procedures, and strengthen the rocket’s reliability. The fact that the team identified issues, corrected them, and delivered a successful outcome underscored a culture of meticulous testing and disciplined execution.
According to Borisov, today’s liftoff, carried out by the hands of skilled professionals, represents a powerful achievement for Russia and its people. He emphasized the mission’s broader significance, suggesting that the successful flight could pave the way for ongoing advancements in national space exploration and technology.
The Roscosmos chief also expressed optimism about a bright future for the Angara family and saw the launch as a milestone that could catalyze new progress in Russia’s space ambitions.
Vladimir Solovyov, who leads the design effort for manned programs in Russia, remarked that Angara-A5 is expected to fly again soon from Vostochny to support the country’s crewed spaceflight programs. This statement highlighted the rocket’s role in sustaining and expanding Russia’s human spaceflight capabilities.
The Angara-A5 heavy launch vehicle, equipped with the Orion upper stage, was developed by the State Research and Production Space Center named after MV Khrunichev. The center’s managing director praised the engineering team for delivering impressive results, recognizing the quality and precision that went into this mission.
The April 11 launch from Vostochny occurred at 12:00 Moscow time and represented a successful demonstration of Angara-A5’s capabilities in a live flight. This mission followed a scheduled but adjusted timeline, as the launch had originally been planned for April 9. The delay arose due to a malfunction in the oxidizer tank pressurization system located in the central unit.
While the initial schedule faced a setback, the window reopened on April 10 after engineers conducted checks and confirmed the integrity of the propulsion and control systems. Borisov noted later that some observed issues with the engine start control system required careful analysis and corrective action to ensure mission safety and reliability.
Historically, Roscosmos has tracked the development of Angara through a series of spaceflight milestones, with each launch offering an opportunity to refine technology, demonstrate reliability, and bolster national capabilities in space operations. The recent mission from Vostochny stands as a clear example of that ongoing journey and its connection to future explorations.