Vostochny Cosmodrome

Vostochny Cosmodrome is a Russian Federal Space Agency-operated cosmodrome located in the Amur Oblast region of Russia, near the city of Tsiolkovsky. The construction of the cosmodrome was supervised by Dmitry Rogozin, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, and was intended to reduce Russia's dependence on the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is leased from Kazakhstan. The cosmodrome is also expected to play a key role in Russia's Luna-Glob and Venera-D missions, in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the NASA.

History

The concept of building a new cosmodrome in Russia was first proposed in the 1990s by Boris Yeltsin, the first President of Russia, but the project was delayed due to funding issues and was only revived in the 2000s by Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia. The construction of the cosmodrome began in 2011, with the participation of companies such as RKK Energia, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and TsSKB-Progress. The cosmodrome was officially opened on April 28, 2016, with the launch of a Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying a Mikhailo Lomonosov satellite, developed by the Moscow State University in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Location and Layout

The Vostochny Cosmodrome is located in the Amur Oblast region of Russia, near the city of Tsiolkovsky, which was previously known as Uglegorsk and was renamed in honor of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a renowned Russian physicist and mathematician who is considered one of the founding fathers of rocketry and astronautics. The cosmodrome is situated near the Bolshaya Pyora River and is connected to the Trans-Siberian Railway by a branch line, which was built by the Russian Railways company. The cosmodrome's location was chosen due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, which allows for safer and more efficient launches of rockets and spacecraft, including those developed by the United Launch Alliance and the ArianeGroup.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The Vostochny Cosmodrome has a total area of approximately 700 square kilometers and features a range of facilities and infrastructure, including a launch pad for Soyuz-2 and Angara rockets, developed by the RKK Energia and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center companies, as well as a processing facility for spacecraft, built by the TsSKB-Progress company in collaboration with the Thales Alenia Space and the Airbus Defence and Space. The cosmodrome also has a mission control center, which is equipped with advanced computer systems and communication equipment, developed by the IBM and the Cisco Systems companies, and is staffed by experienced engineers and technicians from the Russian Federal Space Agency and the European Space Agency. Additionally, the cosmodrome has a range of support facilities, including warehouses, fueling stations, and accommodation for personnel, built by the Bouygues Construction and the Vinci SA companies.

Launches and Operations

The first launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome took place on April 28, 2016, when a Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying a Mikhailo Lomonosov satellite was launched into orbit. Since then, the cosmodrome has hosted several launches, including the launch of a Kanopus-V-IK satellite, developed by the NTsOMZ company in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a Fregat upper stage, developed by the NPO Lavochkin company. The cosmodrome is expected to play a key role in Russia's space program, including the launch of crewed missions to the International Space Station, in collaboration with the NASA and the European Space Agency, as well as the launch of uncrewed missions to the Moon and Mars, as part of the Luna-Glob and ExoMars programs.

Future Development

The Vostochny Cosmodrome is expected to undergo significant development in the coming years, with plans to expand its facilities and infrastructure to support a range of new space missions, including the launch of reusable rockets, developed by the SpaceX and the Blue Origin companies, and the establishment of a lunar base, as part of the Luna-Glob program. The cosmodrome is also expected to play a key role in Russia's space cooperation with other countries, including the United States, China, and Europe, through organizations such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the International Astronautical Federation. Additionally, the cosmodrome is expected to support the development of new space technologies, including advanced propulsion systems, developed by the NASA and the European Space Agency, and new materials, developed by the MIT and the Caltech universities. Category:Spaceports