Russia launched its most powerful missile today. For the first time in 6 years

The Angara A5 variant made its first flight in December 2014.

Since then, work has been underway to improve it, and there was really no funding for it, so it took so long.

The Russian space industry was dealt almost deadly blows by the American company SpaceX, which develops rocket recovery technology, thanks to which mission costs could drop by as much as 10 times. If SpaceX did not exist, the Russians would carry out virtually most space missions for private corporations around the world.

Unfortunately, for several years now, companies have been attracted by Elon Musk's proven, safe and cheap technologies.

There is no indication that this situation will ever change.

The more so as SpaceX is building an even cheaper space means of transport for goods and people called Starship. SpaceX can carry out a space mission for less than $ 10 million, while the Angara A5 flight costs about $ 100 million.

So the difference is colossal.

The Russians were to develop rockets that could be recycled, but this is a very distant topic and such a vision may not be implemented. Angara in the A5 variant, and later A7, were to change Russia's cosmic aspirations beyond recognition and replace the well-worn Soyuz, Proton vehicles

, Zenit and Rokot.

It is worth emphasizing here that the Angara A5 is the most powerful missile currently in use in this country and the third most powerful in history.

It is to be able to carry loads up to 24 tons into orbit on the LEO and 5.5 tons within the geostationary orbit.

The latest launch took place two days ago from the Plesieck cosmodrome.

Ultimately, these rockets are also to take off from the new Vostochny spaceport. On the occasion of the SpraceX topic, it is worth mentioning that Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's deputy prime minister responsible for the defense and space industry, recently accused Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, of dumping.

He believes that the American billionaire, thanks to his (allegedly) prohibited practice, is rapidly acquiring a mass of new customers who are interested in cheap SpaceX services.

Such practices take bread from thousands of workers in the entire Russian space industry. Experts believe that Russia is currently unable to fight back and compete with the US space industry.

Especially since the Russian Ministry of Defense cannot support Roscosmos in the same way as the American agency does.

Well, Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's deputy prime minister in charge of the defense and space industry, has no idea how great a marketing specialist Elon Musk is, and how he and his people can get every penny from a government that spends huge funds on private sector development.

At the same time, Rogozin announced that he was full of hopes for the project of a new version of a powerful Russian rocket called Angara A7, which is expected to take to the sky around 2023. It is to be a reusable rocket, similar to Falcon-9, Falcon

Heavy and SuperHeavy by SpaceX, and will have a modular structure, which will allow free selection of rocket power depending on the needs, and will simplify and reduce operating costs.

Nothing is known about this rocket yet.

Experts say it is unlikely to ever rise, and Rogozin has no tricks up its sleeve against the US.