The Vostochny cosmodrome is Russia's space launch complex of the future that is of huge scientific, social, economic and commercial importance. The center will prepare and launch various spacecraft including transport vehicles, space station modules (platforms), manned space flight vehicles and will study and explore celestial bodies and cooperate with other countries in this area.
The main goal of the cosmodrome is to provide Russia with independent access to space and to maintain and improve its ability to launch spacecraft.
In 2015, there are plans to prepare to launch scientific, social, economic, dual and commercial purpose spacecraft, transport aircraft and space station modules (platforms). In 2018, manned space flights will be launched. The general designer is IPROMASHPROM (Mechanical Engineering Project Institute). The general contractor is the Federal Agency for Special Construction.
The cosmodrome will be built in the Svobodny and Shimanovsk Districts, Amur Region, on the water divide of the Zeya and Bolshaya Pyora Rivers and will be based on the abandon Svobodny cosmodrome and the deserted town of Uglegorsk.
The launch routes will pass over sparsely populated Far Eastern districts and bodies of water. Another strong argument for building the cosmodrome there is an advanced transport network (the Baikal-Amur Mainline, the Chita-Khabarovsk motorway), large resources for electric energy produced in the area and its proximity to sea ports. The cosmodrome's total area will be about 700 square kilometres. Compare this with Baikonur (6,717 km2) and Plesetsk (1,762 km2).
At present, there are plans to build ten service and maintenance platforms that will include:
- a launch site for average-class missile carriers with increased lift capacity (up to 20 tonnes), including two missile launchers;
- an orbiter maintenance and checkout facility for unmanned and manned spacecraft;
- cosmonaut training facilities;
- an oxygen and nitrogen plant and a hydrogen plant;
- a modern measuring and tracking system;
- an airfield complex for all existing Russian and foreign made planes;
- 115 km of roads and 125 km of railway within the cosmodrome;
- engineering support facilities (a small heat-only boiler station, water intake and treatment facilities, all types of communication, emergency facilities [a fire station and shelters], etc.);
- various warehouse, transfer and repair facilities;
- a modern community for workers and service personnel at the cosmodrome with the necessary medical, social, shopping, entertainment and sports facilities.
The total cost of the Vostochny cosmodrome will be defined after developing project documentation and holding a state expertise session.
The creation of a new cosmodrome of scientific, social and economic importance will help to resolve the following objectives:
- create conditions for independent space activity for the Russian Federation within its borders, including a range of issues to be resolved;
- optimise the loading and launch of spacecraft with new space infrastructural facilities;
- increase the survivability and stability of land-based space infrastructural facilities in case of emergency;
- provide an alternative launch option for military space aircraft in case of a demobilised Plesetsk cosmodrome;
- improve local social and economic conditions and local industry which will conform to Russia's state policy to improve the Far East.