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Russia Delays Landmark Rocket Launch Again


Russia's Angara rocket, a new design of a space vehicle, is seen at the space complex of Plesetsk on June 27.
Russia's Angara rocket, a new design of a space vehicle, is seen at the space complex of Plesetsk on June 27.

Russian media reports say the inaugural test launch of Russia's Angara rocket -- its first new design of a space vehicle since the Soviet era -- has again been put off.

The test launch of the Angara was first called off on June 27, minutes before blastoff.

According to officials, the automatic abort system was triggered and the launch was halted. No reason was given for the failure.

Officials said on June 28 that the rocket will be removed from the launchpad at Russia's space complex of Plesetsk for comprehensive analysis. The new launch time would only be decided after the checks.

The Angara is the first rocket entirely designed and built within post-Soviet Russia's borders.

It is designed to decrease Russia's dependency on the Soviet-era Baikonur space complex in Kazakhstan and to phase out foreign, mostly Ukrainian, rocket technology.

Based on reporting by Reuters and RIA Novosti

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