On 14th December, 2020, Russia Successfully test launched ‘Angara A5’ – Heavy Lift Space Rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northwest Russia. This is the 2nd successful test flight of the vehicle after 1st successful test flight in 2014. Angara is a new series of space launchers being built by Russia after the collapse of Soviet Union.
i.Angara A5 will replace Proton M Rocket to carry Russia’s heaviest payloads into orbit.
ii.The Angara Rocket series is developed & manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre.
Key Points:
i.Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (Roscosmos) stated that Angara rockets are fuelled by oxygen & Kerosene rather than heptyl which makes it more environment friendly.
ii.Angara A5 is capable of placing up to 24.5 metric tons into a 120-mile (200- kilometres)-high orbit.
iii.A new launch pad for the new rocket is set to be open in 2021.
iv.“Angara” is named after a siberian river flowing out of Lake Baikal.
Recent Related News:
i.July 22, 2020, The Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects in the Defense Industry informed that Russia for the 1st time conducted a successful flight test of the MGTD-20 gas turbine engine made by 3D-printing.
About Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (Roscosmos):
Director General – Dmitry Olegovich Rogozin
Headquarters – Moscow, Russia
