Russia postponed the Angara rocket launcher to 2014

The first launch of Russia's new Angara rocket has been postponed for at least a year, the RIA Novosti said to the Ministry of Defense on Friday.

Light Angara missiles will be launched in mid-2014 and the heavy version will launch in late testing, Russian Defense Vice Minister Yury Borisov said.

Earlier, the light Angara version was planned to leave the launch pad in 2013.

New Angara rocket of Russia - (Photo: RIA Novosti)

According to Russia's Deputy Defense Minister, General Oleg Ostapenko, the rocket could only be launched at the end of April after the new launch complex at the Plesetsk Space Center in northern Russia was completely built. .

According to RIA Novosti, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on May 6 expressed concern about the delay, and said the Ministry of Defense placed high priority on developing new Angara missiles and will closely monitor it. why it

The development of Angara is "very important" , Sergei Shoigu said, "I will regularly review the progress of building it during regular weekly meetings with the leaders of the General Staff Department."

It is known that Angara missiles are designed to be capable of carrying between 2,000 and 40,500 kg on Earth's low orbit, developed in 1995.

The purpose of the Angara rocket development is that Russia wants to have independence in bringing satellites or spacecraft to space. These missiles will help Russia reduce its dependence on the Russian-owned Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan when it carries a heavy load that will be launched from Plesetsk or from the Vostochny Space Center under construction in the Russian Far East.