Support The Moscow Times!

Launch of Russia's Angara Rocket Postponed Moments Before Liftoff

Angara rocket being readied for launch on Wednesday Ministry of Defense

The maiden voyage of Russia's first rocket of post-Soviet design, Angara, was scrubbed at the last moment Friday for reasons that are not yet known, Interfax reported.

Lieutenant General Alexander Golovko told Interfax that the rocket's flight computer triggered an automatic launch abort moments before liftoff, and that the launch has been bumped to Saturday.

President Vladimir Putin, who was watching the launch alone in a large Kremlin conference room, told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu — who was at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia to preside over the launch – that he had one hour to analyze the situation and report back.

Angara is an important project for the Russian space program, which has managed to stay afloat for 20 years by maintaining and upgrading proven Soviet-era technology. Angara is the first rocket the space industry has designed since the collapse of the Soviet union in 1991, and is intended to prove that Russia has a future in space.

Read more about Angara here:

Russia Gearing Up For Launch of First Post-Soviet Rocket

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more