--- title: "Report: There’s a Critical Flaw in Russia’s New Heavy Lift Rocket" description: "Russian scientists have warned that Russia's space agency's upcoming heavy lift rocket could have a fatal design flaw that could destroy it during launch." date: "2019-01-18" modified: "2019-01-18" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/russian-scientists-flaw-heavy-lift-rocket" categories: - "Space" tags: - "rocket" - "Roscosmos" - "Russian Space Agency" --- # Report: There’s a Critical Flaw in Russia’s New Heavy Lift Rocket ![]() *\Image: Andrei Morgunov\* ## A Critical Flaw More bad news for the Russian space agency Rocosmos: *Reuters* [reports that]() engineers found a fatal flaw in the design of its much anticipated [Angara A5]() heavy lift space rocket. The rocket went through its first test launch back in 2014. Once completed, it's supposed to lug 20 metric tons of cargo into space at a time — roughly a [third]() of the payload of SpaceX's Heavy Falcon rocket. Now, *Reuters* reports that scientists warned of dangerous low-frequency oscillations that could rip the Angara A5 rocket's RD-191 engines apart during launch. Despite efforts to reduce these oscillations, including the installation of a special valve, scientists working for Russian engine manufacturer Energomash allegedly warned that a launch could still end in disaster. ## Mixed Messages *Reuters* mentions that a paper published by Energomash was reported on by the Russian *RIA News* earlier Friday. Oddly, *RIA News* later published [an update]() stating that the problems had been eliminated and referencing an [official press release]() on Energomash's website. "Messages appearing in the media about a defect in the Angara RN engines contain inaccurate information that's taken out of the context," reads the press release, as interpreted by Google Translate. ## Bad Timing The news couldn't have come at a worse time for Russia's space ambitions. It comes after a [bent Soyuz rocket sensor]() forced a NASA and Russian astronaut to make an emergency landing in October. A different, uncrewed cargo spacecraft [fell back to Earth]() shortly after launch in December 2016. Russia's current Proton M heavy launch rocket [didn't fare much better](), experiencing a failure rate of ten percent. It's impossible to say at this stage if Angara A5's rocket is ready to launch. All we can do is hope that engine manufacturer Energomash has found a solution in time for next test. **READ MORE:** [Russian scientists find defect in new heavy lift space rocket engine]() \[*Reuters*\] ***More on Roscosmos: [Russia's Only Space Telescope Has Stopped Responding to Commands]()*** ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()