Russian space program has fallen significantly behind schedule in recent years. The Angara-A5 rocket is a new generation machine intended to replace the aging Proton launchers.
The project, however, fell behind schedule and the timetable set by the Russian authorities at the time of the first test, in 2014, was not respected. Despite the success of April 11, the Russian space sector remains limited today by its lack of innovation. Most of its systems are based on Soviet technologies, which are generally reliable but aging. Russia must also face increased competition from private companies, such as the American SpaceX owned by billionaire Elon Musk, and new space powers,. such as India. The launch of the new rocket was delayed twice for ‘technical’ reasons. The rocket operated normally, the upper stage separated from the third stage of the rocket,” the Roscosmos agency said in a press release a few minutes after takeoff. It is the first time a Russian rocket has taken off from the Vostotchny cosmodrome in the Russian Far East.