MOSCOW. Nov 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The new Angara rocket may make its maiden flight with a real satellite onboard, Angara chief designer Gennady Kleimenov told Interfax-AVN.
"We are considering that possibility. The client and the Khrunichev Aerospace Center are interested in doing that. The type of a satellite, which may be put into orbit by the rocket for a state client, has been suggested," he said.
New rockets rarely have a real payload on their first flights, Kleimenov said. The first launch is usually made to verify rocket characteristics. Everything is different this time, as Angara parameters have been confirmed with land tests.
"No final decision has been made so far," Kleimenov said.
It was reported earlier that the Angara light rocket might have its first flight in early 2012, while the Angara heavy rocket might take off at the end of 2012.