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Russia cancels launch of Angara-A5 heavy carrier rocket from Vostochny spaceport

According to the command issued at the spaceport, the Angara liftoff has been delayed by at least 24 hours

VOSTOCHNY COSMODROME, April 9. /TASS/. The launch of an Angara-A5 heavy carrier rocket with an Orion booster has been cancelled, following a command issued at the Vostochny spaceport, a TASS correspondent reported from the scene.

"Liftoff halted. Work supervisors prepare for a 24-hour stoppage," according to the command issued at the Vostochny spaceport. Therefore, the Angara liftoff has been delayed by at least 24 hours.

The first test-launch of an Angara-A5 heavy carrier rocket from the Vostochny spaceport in the Russian Far East was scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Moscow time (9:00 a.m. GMT) on April 9. Previously, Angara carrier rockets lifted off only from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia.

The launch was expected to start flight development tests of the Amur rocket system that comprises the Angara rocket and the Vostochny spaceport’s infrastructure. In addition, the rocket’s Orion booster was expected to be tested.

Russia is set to complete the tests of Angara light and heavy carrier rockets in 2025.

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