Angara-A5 heavy-lift rocket launched for the first time from Vostochny Cosmodrome

Heavy launch vehicle "Angara-A5" started off Vostochny cosmodrome. After about 12 minutes, the upper stage with the test payload separated from the third stage of Angara and continued its launch into the target orbit. The launch marked the beginning of flight development tests of the Amur space rocket system, as well as flight tests of the Orion upper stage.

The Angara-A5 heavy rocket is the first rocket developed in Russia after the collapse of the USSR. In the near future, it should replace the Proton-M rocket as it is more environmentally friendly and does not use toxic fuel components.