Video: Angara-A5 Heavy Rocket Launched for First Time from Vostochny Spaceport

The first launch of the Angara-A5 heavy-class rocket was successfully conducted from the Vostochny spaceport. This marks a significant event in the flight testing of the Amur space rocket complex, as well as in the flight testing of the Orion upper stage.

Moreover, this is the second launch directly from Vostochny. The previous attempt had been canceled due to a failure in the pressure system of the oxidizer tank in the central block. A second planned launch was also aborted.

However, the state commission decided to proceed with the rocket's first launch again, allowing for the experimental payload from the upper stage to be separated from the Angara’s third stage approximately 12.5 minutes after launch to continue deploying into the targeted orbit.

Previously, rockets from this family were launched exclusively from the Plesetsk spaceport. Now, Angara will replace the outdated Protons, and this launch will enable testing of the ground infrastructure for space operations.