This launch marks an important milestone for Russia as it seeks to keep pace with the rest of the world and achieve space autonomy.

The three-stage rocket, standing at an impressive height of nearly 179 feet (54.5 meters), took off from the Vostochny launch pad at 5:00 a.m. ET. The mission proceeded as planned, with the Angara A5 successfully delivering a test payload to low Earth orbit. This particular launch was Russia's third attempt at flying the Angara A5 rocket, following two previous scrubbed launches due to technical issues.

The Angara A5 rocket, which was first launched in December 2014, has now flown on four occasions. Its prior three launches originated from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, with the most recent launch occurring at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Built entirely from Russian components, the Angara A5 has a capacity to lift 23 metric tons to low Earth orbit and 5.4 metric tons to geosynchronous Earth orbit.

During today's mission, the second stage of the rocket, known as Orion, successfully separated from the first stage approximately 12 minutes into the flight. This was followed by the third stage reaching its target orbit and releasing its payload. The Russian space agency Roscosmos confirmed that the Angara A5 performed as expected and highlighted that the launch marks the beginning of "flight development tests of the Amur space rocket complex with Angara heavy-class launch vehicles at Vostochny."

Roscosmos further stated that the Angara A5 rocket is "environmentally friendly and does not use toxic fuel components, unlike Proton-M, which Angara will completely replace." This makes it a significant advancement for Russia as it looks to replace the long-utilized Proton M rocket, which has been in operation since the 1960s.

The Angara project, initiated in the 1990s after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, represents Russia's aspiration for space autonomy. Currently, Russia leases the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan, but the lease is set to expire in 2050. Launching rockets from Vostochny Cosmodrome will not only provide Russia with greater independence but also position it to compete in the New Space Race.

It is anticipated that the Angara A5 rocket will play a vital role in delivering modules for Russia's future space station, as the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled for retirement in 2030. This successful launch marks a significant achievement for Russia's space program and sets the stage for further advancements in the exploration of space.