The first launch from the East was postponed due to the rebound of automation

Today at 05:01 Moscow time the first launch from the new Russian Vostochny cosmodrome was to take place . It was planned that the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle would launch the Lomonosov, Aist-2D and SamSat-218 (SamSat-218) spacecraft into orbit. They planned to broadcast live, and President Vladimir Putin himself flew to the cosmodrome .

At 2 o'clock, the state commission on the results of refueling and general readiness of the Vostochny cosmodrome made a decision on the missile readiness . A command was given to launch automatic cycles for pre-launch preparation of the launch vehicle and launching unit and withdrawal of the mobile service tower. However, the launch did not take place: the automatics shut down 1.5 minutes before the start.

Now the commission is studying the reasons. Conclusions will be reported additionally.

“With our colleagues, the transfer of starts for a day or even more is a common occurrence. This indicates that responsive automation works and ultimately allows for a successful launch, ” said the representative of“ Roscosmos ”Igor Burenkov.

A source at the launch site reportedRIA "Novosti" correspondent that the automation could cancel the launch due to a possible problem with the drain valves at the stage of pressurization of the launch vehicle tanks.

“It was possible to clearly enough localize the problem area where everything could happen, and now work is underway to work out and use a spare set and find out more accurate causes,” said Igor Komarov.

The reserve launch date is April 28, 05:01 Moscow time. Igor Komarov expressed the hope that this time would be enough to fix all the problems.

“When preparing for such a strategically important event, it is always provided that the launch can be postponed, there is nothing supernatural in this. This should be treated quite calmly, "- commented Academician of the Tsiolkovsky Academy of Cosmonautics Alexander Zheleznyakov.