Angara A5
Angara A5 (Russian: Ангара-А5), is a Russian heavy lift launch vehicle which consists of one URM-1 core and four URM-1 boosters, a 3.6m URM-2 second stage, and an upper stage, either the Briz-M, Blok DM-03 or the KVTK. Weighing 773 tonnes at lift-off, Angara A5 has a payload capacity of 24.5 tonnes to a 200 km (120 mi) x 60° orbit. Angara A5 is able to deliver 5.4 tonnes to GTO with Briz-M, or 7.5 tonnes to the same orbit with KVTK.
Launch of Angara A5 | |
| Function | Launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Khrunichev KBKhA |
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Cost per launch | US$100 million (2021) |
| Size | |
| Height | 55.4 m (182 ft) |
| Width | 8.86 m (29.1 ft) |
| Mass | 171,500 kg (378,100 lb) - 790,000 kg (1,740,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2-3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO (Plesetsk) | |
| Mass | 24,500 kg (54,000 lb) |
| Payload to GTO (Plesetsk) | |
| Mass | 5,400 kg (11,900 lb) - 7,500 kg (16,500 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Angara |
| Comparable | Naro-1, Angara 1.2 |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Plesetsk, Site 35 Vostochny, Site 1A |
| Total launches | 4 |
| Success(es) | 3 |
| Failure(s) | 0 |
| Partial failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | 23 December 2014 |
| Last flight | 11 April 2024 |
| Boosters (A5) – URM-1 | |
| No. boosters | 4 (see text) |
| Powered by | 1 RD-191 |
| Maximum thrust | 1,920 kN (430,000 lbf) (Sea level) |
| Total thrust | 7,680 kN (1,730,000 lbf) (Sea level) |
| Specific impulse | 310.7 s (3.047 km/s) (Sea level) |
| Burn time | 214 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| First stage – URM-1 | |
| Powered by | 1 RD-191 |
| Maximum thrust | 1,920 kN (430,000 lbf) (Sea level) |
| Specific impulse | 310.7 s (3.047 km/s) (Sea level) |
| Burn time | Angara 1.2: 214 seconds Angara A5: 325 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| Second stage – URM-2 | |
| Powered by | 1 RD-0124A |
| Maximum thrust | 294.3 kN (66,200 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 359 s (3.52 km/s) |
| Burn time | Angara A5: 424 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| Third stage (A5) – Briz-M (optional) | |
| Powered by | 1 S5.98M |
| Maximum thrust | 19.6 kN (4,400 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 326 s (3.20 km/s) |
| Burn time | 3,000 seconds |
| Propellant | N2O4/UDMH |
| Third stage (A5) – Persei / Orion (optional) | |
| Powered by | 1 RD-58MF |
| Maximum thrust | 19.6 kN (4,400 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 326 s (3.20 km/s) |
| Burn time | 3,000 seconds |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| Third stage (A5) – KVTK (optional, under development) | |
| Powered by | 1 RD-0146D |
| Maximum thrust | 68.6 kN (15,400 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 463 s (4.54 km/s) |
| Burn time | 1,350 seconds |
| Propellant | LH2/LOX |
In the Angara A5, the four URM-1s used as boosters operate at full thrust for approximately 214 seconds, then separate. The URM-1 forming the vehicle's core is operated at full thrust for lift off, then throttled down to 30% to conserve propellant. The core is throttled back up after the boosters have separated and continues burning for another 110 seconds.
The first Angara A5 test flight was launched on 23 December 2014. The second test flight was launched on 14 December 2020 from Plesetsk. A third test flight was launched on 27 December 2021, also from Plesetsk. However, the test of Persei upper stage failed and the payload did not make it from LEO to GEO.