Angara A5

The Angara A5 is a new generation Russian rocket, developed by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. The rocket is designed to be a versatile launcher that can carry a range of payloads into orbit, from commercial satellites to interplanetary spacecraft. In this article, we will explore the history, development, design, cost, and achievements of the Angara A5 rocket.

History of Angara A5

The development of the Angara A5 rocket began in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Russian space program was in a state of disarray, and the country's launch infrastructure was outdated and unreliable. In response to these challenges, the Russian government decided to create a new generation of rockets that would be more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective.

The Angara rocket family was born out of this initiative, with the goal of replacing the Soviet-era Proton and Soyuz rockets. The development of the Angara A5 began in 1995, and the first test launch took place in 2014.

Why Angara A5 was developed?

The Angara A5 rocket was developed to meet the growing demand for satellite launches and to replace the aging Proton and Soyuz rockets. The Proton rocket had been in service since the 1960s and had a long history of reliability issues. The Soyuz rocket, which had been in use since the 1950s, was also becoming outdated and expensive to operate.

The Angara A5 was designed to be a modern, reliable, and cost-effective rocket that could carry a wide range of payloads into orbit. The rocket was also designed to be flexible and versatile, with the ability to launch from a variety of launch sites and carry different types of payloads.

Design of Angara A5

The Angara A5 rocket is a two-stage rocket that uses liquid oxygen and kerosene as its propellants. The first stage of the rocket is powered by a single RD-191 engine, which provides a thrust of 1960 kN. The second stage of the rocket is powered by a single RD-0124A engine, which provides a thrust of 305 kN.

The rocket has a length of 55 meters and a diameter of 3.6 meters. It can carry a payload of up to 24,500 kg into low Earth orbit (LEO) and up to 7,200 kg into geostationary orbit (GEO).

The Angara A5 rocket also has a modular design, which allows it to be configured to meet the specific requirements of different missions. The rocket can be equipped with additional boosters to increase its payload capacity, and it can also be launched from a variety of launch sites, including the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the Vostochny Cosmodrome, and the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Cost of Angara A5

The exact cost of the Angara A5 rocket is not publicly available, but it is estimated to be in the range of $100 million to $150 million per launch. This is significantly more expensive than the Soyuz rocket, which costs around $40 million per launch, but it is still considered to be relatively cost-effective compared to other rockets in its class.

Achievements of Angara A5

The Angara A5 rocket has had a relatively short history, with only a handful of test launches to its name. However, the rocket has already achieved some notable milestones.

The first test launch of the Angara A5 took place on December 23, 2014, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. The launch was considered to be a success, with the rocket reaching its intended orbit and deploying a test payload.

Since then, there have been a total of three test launches of the Angara A5, with the most recent taking place on December 14, 2021. This launch was the first commercial mission for the rocket, carrying a South Korean GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellite into orbit. The launch was considered to be a success, with the satellite reaching its intended orbit.

One of the main advantages of the Angara A5 rocket is its flexibility and versatility. The rocket can be launched from a variety of launch sites, which allows it to meet the specific requirements of different missions. The rocket's modular design also allows it to be configured to carry a wide range of payloads, from small satellites to large interplanetary spacecraft.

Another advantage of the Angara A5 rocket is its modern and reliable design. The rocket is equipped with advanced systems and components that are designed to minimize the risk of launch failures. This is in contrast to the aging Proton and Soyuz rockets, which have a long history of reliability issues.

In conclusion, the Angara A5 rocket is a new generation Russian rocket that has been developed to meet the growing demand for satellite launches and to replace the aging Proton and Soyuz rockets. The rocket has a modern and versatile design, and has already achieved some notable milestones in its short history. While the exact cost of the rocket is not publicly available, it is considered to be relatively cost-effective compared to other rockets in its class.