New delays affect the development of the Angara rocket (Credits: RIA Novosti).
The maiden flight of the Angara rocket, previously expected in 2013, will likely take place in 2014, after the construction of a new launch pad at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
“We are hoping for 2014. But it all depends on the industry – how fast they can build the rocket,” said Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Oleg Ostapenko, as reported by RIA Novosti.
Angara is a modular series of rockets that can launch light to heavy payloads, designed to provide lifting capabilities between 2,000 and 40,500 kilograms into low Earth orbit. The Angara rocket family, composed of models 1.1, 1.2, A3, and A5, is designed around a liquid propelled booster, called the Universal Rocket Module (URM) and fueled with oxygen and kerosene. Angara will not use traditional solid rocket boosters for the heavier versions, instead employing additional URMs. Depending on the configuration the first stage can consist of 1, 3, 5, or 7 such modules. Angara’s first stage has already flown three times as part of the KSLV-1 rocket development program. However, the Korean stage was provided with a less powerful engine than the one to be used on Angara.
Angara has been in development for 18 years now, suffering many delays particularly due to economic difficulties. Its main purpose is to reduce Russia’s dependence on Kazakhstan, where the Baikonur Cosmodrome is located. Angara will allow Russia to launch heavy payloads from Plesetsk, in northern Russia and from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in Russian Far East, replacing a number of existing vehicles. Recently Russia and Kazakhstan went through a dispute stemming from Russia’s plan to abandon Baikonur in the future, leaving Kazakhstan without the $115 million a year of rental fees it curently receives from Russia.
Ostapenko spoke also about the Soyuz-2.1V lightweight rocket. The test launch, scheduled in 2013, has been postponed after an accident during the hot fire test. The Soyuz-2.1V is a modified version of the traditional Soyuz launch vehicle with a different first stage engine and without the four characteristic boosters.
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