Russia is rolling out a new heavy launch vehicle "Angara-A5"
Russia has launched a new heavy launch vehicle Angara-A5 into space from the Vostochny cosmodrome. This is the most important event in the Russian space industry in several decades. How does the new carrier differ from the legendary Proton, what tasks will the new Angara perform and what significance does it have for the whole country?
In the entire history of the Russian (Soviet) space industry, Russia has created only two serial heavy launch vehicles: the legendary Proton, which is still in use, and now the Angara-A5 rocket. Previously, Angara performed test launches only from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. On April 11, a heavy modification of this launch vehicle was sent into space for the first time from Russia's newest Vostochny cosmodrome. The load is still only a test one.
At first glance, the rocket does not look like any special achievement - against the background of the fact that carriers with returnable stages are already operating in the United States. However, in fact, we are facing a real breakthrough in Russian cosmonautics.
A base for space exploration
The main indicator of the efficiency of the national cosmonautics is not the number of launches, the budget or the availability of some unique missions. Everything is much more prosaic. The main task of the space industry is to create the spacecraft necessary for the country, send them into orbit at the right time and continue to maintain their smooth operation.
It probably doesn't sound very romantic. But this is the base. It is with its help that communications, satellite navigation, remote sensing of the Earth, meteorology and other industries work, providing daily comfort and quality of life for every citizen of Russia. Affecting the whole reality that we see both outside the window and in our own phone. Everything else – scientific launches, space observatories and lunar regolith mining – is already being created additionally.
Therefore, it is important for any space power to have a basic range of launch vehicles for launching various spacecraft. These launch vehicles are divided into three classes - light, medium and heavy. In Russia, this is the Soyuz-2, respectively.1b" and "Angara-1.2PP" (light), two modifications of the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle (Soyuz-2.1a" and "Soyuz-2.1b" – medium) and "Proton-M" (heavy).
Why are heavy rockets the most important
If there are no rockets, then putting any spacecraft into orbit is impossible. It is impossible to independently provide either broadcasting, communications, or cartography, not to mention the fulfillment of key defense tasks. An excellent illustration of this is the situation in which the European Space Agency (ESA) now finds itself. Their triad of rockets were Vega, Soyuz and Ariane-5. None of them are working today.
For Ariane-5 heavy rockets, the transition to a new generation of Ariane-6 has been delayed, the first launch of which is due to take place only this summer. Since Europe itself has severed all space ties with Russia, the launch of Russian Soyuz medium-class missiles in the interests of European customers from the Kura cosmodrome is impossible. The EU also has many problems with the Vega light missile – high accident rate, as well as the inability to supply the fourth stage to the Ukrainian Yuzhmash.
Despite the fact that the EU's total space budget exceeds the Russian one several times, Europe actually does not have its own carrier at the moment. Unlike Russia. Brussels even had to bow to Elon Musk with Gallileo satellites.
And among all three classes of missiles, heavy ones are the most important. They are capable of doing things that others cannot: putting heavy communications satellites, weather satellites, orbital station modules into orbit, etc. And not just into orbit, but into geostationary orbit, which is necessary precisely to ensure space communications. And space communication in the current conditions is of fundamental importance for trade, for civil industry, for defense, and for everyday comfort.
Replacing the "Proton"
The Angara-A5 launch vehicle launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome is precisely the main Russian heavy rocket of the near future. Why was it impossible to stay on the main "workhorse" of Soviet and then Russian cosmonautics – Proton? He has two main problems.
The first is geography. Proton can only launch from Baikonur, which makes Russian cosmonautics dependent on agreements with Kazakhstan. The second problem of Proton is fuel. It is very toxic.
That is why Russia built the Vostochny cosmodrome and that is why it is testing a new heavy launch vehicle. Angara uses much more environmentally friendly kerosene and oxygen as fuel and oxidizer.
Tasks for Angara
It is important that the Angara can be launched not only from the Eastern, but also from the northern Plesetsk cosmodrome, depending on the payload. It's all about ballistic conditions. In order to most effectively launch satellites into geostationary orbit and other orbits in the plane of the equator, a spaceport is required as close as possible to the equator, where the Earth's rotation speed is higher. On the contrary, a cosmodrome in the north is more convenient for launching into polar orbits, which are often used for Earth remote sensing satellites.
Angara is not a single rocket, but a whole family. From the light "Angara-1.2PP" to the heavy "Angara-A5" and even the promising "Angara-A5B" with increased payload capacity due to the installation of an additional hydrogen stage.
Angara has many different tasks ahead. A promising manned transport ship will be tested, and the Luna-26 and Luna-27 lunar stations will be launched. A new Russian orbital station is being designed. It is Angara that should launch the satellites of the Sphere project, whose task is to ensure uninterrupted communication and Internet throughout Russia.
Angara-A5 will take up the baton from the historic Proton and ensure the fulfillment of Russia's main tasks in space. That's more than enough for now.
Mikhail Kotov
