Debut launch of Russia's Angara rocket in imagery

Russia's new Angara launcher took off on its first test flight Wednesday, performing as expected on a 21-minute suborbital mission departing from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome about 500 miles north of Moscow, according to lead contractor Khrunichev.

The Angara is planned to be the cornerstone of a new era in Russian rocketry, eventually replacing the workhorse Proton booster a fleet of retired ballistic missiles converted into satellite launchers.

The venerable Soyuz rocket is the only Russian launch vehicle not slated for replacement by the Angara.

Wednesday's launch at approximately 1200 GMT (8 a.m. EDT; 4 p.m. Moscow time) was not covered live by Russian television. Russia had tried to launch the rocket June 27 -- an attempt that was broadcast live -- but a technical issue cropped up and officials ordered an abort moments before liftoff.

The Russian Defense Ministry and Roscosmos, the two sponsors for the test flight, released photos and video of the launch Thursday.

Read our full story for details on the mission.

Video credit: Roscosmos
Photo credit: Russian Ministry of Defense