Angara-A5/ Briz-M test launch - Plesetsk - December 23, 2014 (0557UTC)

[Eric Hedman]

This is the dedicated thread for the test flight of the new Angara-A5 rocket. All generic matters related to the Angara rocket family should use the Information about Angara rocket thread. Thank you!


I found this article in RIA NOVOSTI about the upcoming Angara test flights

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140620/190628873/Preparations-for-Angara-Test-Flights-Start-at-Russias-Plesetsk.html

[Stan Black]

New Russian Government tender for Angara-A5 flight, listing flight objectives.

1. Анализ результатов функционирования двигателей РД0124А при проведении лётных испытаний РН «Ангара» Корректировка КД и доработка конструкторско-технологического макета двигателя РД0124А. Корректировка РКД на двигатель РД0124А с присвоением литеры «О1».
2. Проведение адаптации СУ РН «Ангара-А5» в обеспечение первого пуска (в соответствии с перечнем № 1).
3. Проведение расчетно-экспериментальных работ в обеспечение создания РН «Ангара» (в соответствии с перечнем № 2)

РД0124А is the URM-2 engine on the third stage; СУ is the control systems, flight computer.

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/epz/order/notice/ep44/view/common-info.html?regNumber=0173100007014000112

[Stan Black]

There is reference to the second flight as «Ангара А5-1ЛМ»; any ideas what 1ЛМ indicates?

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?noticeId=1355512

[anik]

Первая лётная машина.

[mfck]

Первая лётная машина.

Which is "flight hardware one"

[anik]

Which is "flight hardware one"

Angara-A5 for first launch.

[russianhalo117]

There is reference to the second flight as «Ангара А5-1ЛМ»; any ideas what 1ЛМ indicates?

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?noticeId=1355512

Ангара А5-1ЛМ equals Angara A5-1LM, which stands for Первая лётная машина or 1st flight machine.

(this page has been switched to quick post mode and is updating as quickly as possible): http://www.russianspaceweb.com/angara5_flight1.html
Per Anatoly Zak's site this morning:

Two trains carrying components of the Angara-A5-1LM to Plesetsk were reported departing GKNPTs Khrunichev in Moscow for Plesetsk during the night from July 14 to July 15, 2014.
(This page will be continuously updated as events unfold)

[russianhalo117]

There is reference to the second flight as «Ангара А5-1ЛМ»; any ideas what 1ЛМ indicates?

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?noticeId=1355512

Ангара А5-1ЛМ equals Angara A5-1LM, which stands for Первая лётная машина or 1st flight machine.

(this page has been switched to quick post mode and is updating as quickly as possible): http://www.russianspaceweb.com/angara5_flight1.html
Per Anatoly Zak's site this morning:

Two trains carrying components of the Angara-A5-1LM to Plesetsk were reported departing GKNPTs Khrunichev in Moscow for Plesetsk during the night from July 14 to July 15, 2014.
(This page will be continuously updated as events unfold)

Looking at train head codes for this week there is one more train that is being picked up and shipped to Plesetsk tonight.

[Prober]

There is reference to the second flight as «Ангара А5-1ЛМ»; any ideas what 1ЛМ indicates?

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?noticeId=1355512

Ангара А5-1ЛМ equals Angara A5-1LM, which stands for Первая лётная машина or 1st flight machine.

(this page has been switched to quick post mode and is updating as quickly as possible): http://www.russianspaceweb.com/angara5_flight1.html
Per Anatoly Zak's site this morning:

Two trains carrying components of the Angara-A5-1LM to Plesetsk were reported departing GKNPTs Khrunichev in Moscow for Plesetsk during the night from July 14 to July 15, 2014.
(This page will be continuously updated as events unfold)

Looking at train head codes for this week there is one more train that is being picked up and shipped to Plesetsk tonight.

now this is exciting news 
we all love new HW

[russianhalo117]

One of the trains with Angara (A5-1LM?) components can be seen in this video.

Лётная жизнь «Ангары»

Published on Jul 18, 2014
Программа первого полета космической ракеты-носителя, спроектированной в современной России выполнена. Но впереди еще много работы. Сегодня из заводских цехов на космодром Плесецк отправляется следующая Ангара. В декабре она выведет на орбиту уже макет спутника -- это будет новый этап испытаний.

[a_langwich]

One of the trains with Angara (A5-1LM?) components can be seen in this video.

So the A5 launch is scheduled for December?

Is there a betting pool yet on whether Angara A5 or Falcon Heavy launches first?

Not saying there's any competition, or that the rockets are even directly comparable, but both SpaceX and Ruscosmos have a history of optimistic pronouncements, so there might be some amusement.  Probably should have started this 3 years ago, perhaps, but there might still be plenty of amusement left.

The Angara A5 launch is clearly in the lead right now--weren't industry folks thinking the A5 would likely be shipping later in the year?  Have current world events motivated more activity (eg, firing up Mr. Rogozin), or perhaps did the second major Proton mishap motivate making a transition ASAP, or did things just go better than expected?

If this launch, from Plesetsk, demonstrates a geostationary payload, does that imply that Plesetsk could be used for all A5 launches, or is Vostochny still needed for the heavier payloads to geo?

[Artyom.]

Test launch of heavy-lift Angara due in late December

http://www.interfax.ru/russia/399209 (in Russian)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Test launch of heavy-lift Angara due in late December

http://www.interfax.ru/russia/399209 (in Russian)

NET December 25 according to the article. IMHO it still will slip into 2015, though maybe earlier than I thought - first two months maybe?

[owais.usmani]

IMHO it still will slip into 2015

Yep 

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/angara5_flight1.html#downrange

On September 10, a poster on the online forum of the Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine reported that a recent trip of a survey team to the locations where URM-1 boosters were to be dropped during the first launch of the Angara-5 rocket, deemed them unacceptable for the mission. The group discovered that an extremely dense forest at those sites would make it impossible to recover the remnants of the boosters.

According to a typical flight profile, four strap-on boosters of the Angara-5 rocket separate at an altitude of around 82 kilometers around three and a half minutes in flight. They would fall some 850 kilometers to the east from the rocket's launch site in Plesetsk. The central (core) module would separate less than two minutes later at an altitude of 148 kilometers and then would crash 2,320 kilometers downrange.

By the end of September, semi-official Interfax news agency quoting an unnamed official at Roskosmos reported that the first launch of the Angara-5 rocket would "certainly take place after December 25," essentially confirming the delay of the mission until 2015.

[baldusi]

This would be a limitation only for this mission since they intend to inspect the remains, right? Or will this SOP?

[newpylong]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/03/us-russia-space-angara-idUSKCN0HS0D120141003

12/25

[fregate]

October 5th, 2014 RIA Novosti

Испытательный запуск тяжелой "Ангары" запланирован на конец декабря

Первый испытательный пуск тяжелой версии ракеты-носителя "Ангара" состоится в период с 20 по 30 декабря 2014 года, все работы по подготовке запуска идут по графику, заявил журналистам в субботу командующий войсками Воздушно-космической обороны генерал-лейтенант Александр Головко.

"Работы на космодроме идут в соответствии с графиком. 20 ноября мы должны провести опытные испытательные работы на стартовом комплексе", — сказал Головко.

Отвечая на вопрос РИА Новости о том, какая примерно намечена дата запуска, командующий ответил, что решение об этом будет приниматься госкомиссией, но на сегодняшний день "пусковое окно — с 20 по 30 декабря".

My translation:

Qualifying flight of the Heavy class Angara LV [Angara A5] had been planned on end of December.
The maiden flight of the Heavy class Angara Launch Vehicle should take place between 20th and 30th of December 2014; all preparation works [of the launch campaign] are on schedule,  Head of Russian Air & Space Defense Forces Lieutenant-General Alexander Golovko announced to journalists [on Tuesday].
"All works in [Plesetsk] spaceport had been carrying according to schedule. By 20th of December we we must complete a full test cycle on launchpad", said Golovko.
Answering question of the RIA Novosti [correspondent] about planned launch date, Head of [Air & Space Forces] Command  saif that final decision would be made by a State Committee, for now launch window is defined as a period from 20th till 30th of December.

(C) RIA Novosti Photo by Rulsan Krivobok

[asmi]

Do I sense another Soyuz-2.1v-type of launch campaign when the vehicle has been launched at the time bosses were on a lunch break?

[fregate]

Do I sense another Soyuz-2.1v-type of launch campaign when the vehicle has been launched at the time bosses were on a lunch break?

Might be - a truly New year present

[Danderman]

Has a "carwash" for Angara payloads been constructed yet?