Russia Carries Out Test Launch of Heavy-Class Angara A5 Rocket

Russia Tuesday carried out the first test launch of a new heavy-class Angara A5 rocket, the defence ministry said. The rocket was launched at Plesetsk cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk region, Xinhua reported. Twelve minutes after the lift-off, the orbiting payload model separated in the third stage. The Briz-M upper stage would carry the model to the target orbit for payload weight and dimension tests, the ministry said. President Vladimir Putin watched the rocket launch via video. "This is indeed a great and very important event for our aerospace industry and for Russia in general," Putin said. More

(Source: NDTV - Dec 23)