Launch of Angara-5 Is Beginning of Orbital Space Station, Putin Says

April 12, 2024 (EIRNS)—The Angara-5, Russia’s new heavy-lift vehicle, launched from the Vostochny Launch Center on April 11. This took place after two previous efforts at launch had to be aborted for technical reasons. This is the first launch of Angara-5 from the Vostochny site. Previous launches took place at the Plesetsk military launch pad. President Putin announced that, with the success of Angara, Russia now has the lift capacity for constructing its own space station.