ANGARA, RUSSIA’S NEXT GENERATION LAUNCH VEHICLE, SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED FROM PLESETSK COSMODROME

PLESETSK COSMODROME, July 9, 2014- The Angara-1.2ML (Maiden Launch) integrated launch vehicle (ILV) was successfully launched by the Russian Ministry of Defense from the State Testing Cosmodrome (Plesetsk Cosmodrome) in the Archangelsk Region of Northern Russia today.

The light-lift Angara-1.2ML with a mock payload on board lifted off from the Angara multi-purpose launch pad today at 4:00 pm Moscow time (12:00 GMT, 8:00 am ET).

The ILV mission proceeded over the Russian territory along a ballistic trajectory in accordance with the planned timeline. Following the liftoff and the subsequent separation of Stage 1, the payload fairing was jettisoned during the Stage 2 powered flight. Stage 1 and the fairing were released into a planned targeted area in the southern part of the Barents Sea. After 21 minutes and 28 seconds, Stage 2 and the firmly attached mass/dimensional payload simulator reached the planned targeted area of the Kura Range on the Kamchatka peninsula, 5,700 km from the launch site.

The Angara-1.2ML ILV comprises two stages that are based on Common Core Boosters (URM-1 and URM-2), a payload mockup with a mass of 1.43MT, and a payload fairing. The propulsion system runs on ecologically clean components of oxygen and kerosene. The lift off mass of Angara-1.2ML ILV is approximately 171 Metric Tons.

To view the video of the Angara 1.2 ML launch, please go to: http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201407091539-oob6.htm   credit: Zvezda TV

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About the Next Generation Angara Launch System and Launch of Angara-1.2ML (ML) Integrated Launch Vehicle (ILV)

• The Angara state customers are the Russian Ministry of Defense and Federal Space Agency while the chief design and development contractor is the Khrunichev Space Center.
• International Launch Services (ILS) has the exclusive rights to market the Angara launch system to commercial customers. Commercial flights will follow the successful introduction of Angara into the Russian Federal program.
• The Angara Launch Vehicle family includes a range of light-, medium-, and heavy-lift launch vehicles based on generic modules. The Angara family will have the capacity to launch virtually the entire range of would-be payloads to orbits of the entire range of altitudes and inclinations including geostationary orbits, affording true independence to domestic space programs.
• The launch of Angara-1.2ML Integrated Launch Vehicle (ILV) was performed from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome launch pad. The purpose of the launch was to inject the stack comprising LV Stage 2 and a not-to-be-separated mock payload to a ballistic trajectory, whereupon the stack was successfully released into the planned targeted impact area in the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Angara-1.2ML mission ushers in the flight testing program for the next generation Angara launch family.
• The two-stage Angara-1.2ML runs on ecologically clean components; oxygen and kerosene. The parts and components used in the Angara design are all domestically produced.
• The generic modules (Common Core Boosters) serve as basis for building light-, medium-, and heavy-lift launch vehicles.
• Standardization and commonality of the parts being used, combined with unique design solutions, make it possible to launch all variants of the Angara family from one multi-purpose launch pad.
• A prototype of Angara-1.2ML, URM-1 Common Core Booster, successful conducted three flight tests as part of KSLV-1, the first South Korean launch vehicle.

Angara-1.2ML ILV performance data