Russia aborts second attempt to launch a heavy-lift rocket from Far East

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has failed for a second straight day to test-launch a new heavy-lift rocket from its Far Eastern space complex. Officials have scheduled another launch attempt for Thursday. The first attempt to launch the Angara-A5 rocket from the Vostochny spaceport on Tuesday was canceled about two minutes before the scheduled liftoff due to a failure of the pressurization system of the oxidizer tank in the central block of the rocket. The second attempted launch Wednesday was also aborted by the automatic safety system that registered a flaw in the engine start control mechanism, according to Yuri Borisov, head of Russia’s state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos. Borisov said another launch attempt was scheduled for Thursday.