Angara rocket to be test launched within weeks

A decision concerning the first test launch of the Angara LV will be made shortly, Interfax-AVN reports.

"The state commission will convene soon to ponder main theories of the June 27 situation in which the rocket launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome was automatically aborted seconds before the takeoff. The new launch date will be chosen after the reports are made," the source at the Khrunichev Space Center said.

There is no information why the automatic system called off the launch.

"There are a number of theories but none of them is final. Experimental proof is required," the source said. For instance, the automated prelaunch control system signaled faulty operation of a system of the first stage engine, he said.

"The problem needs to be identified and if there is a failure it has to be eliminated. Only then a new launch date can be discussed," the source continued.

"In a sense, we can be grateful to the automatic system because the mission might have failed if there is really a technical problem. Unfortunately, there have been rocket explosions on launch sites in the rocketry history. In some cases people died," the source said.

The first test launch of the brand new launch vehicle Angara did not happen on June 27. It did not happen on the auxiliary date, June 28, either.

Universal family of light, medium and heavy-lift Angara launchers is being developed for lifting into orbit practically the entire range of payloads of the Russian Defense Ministry.