GORKI (Moscow Region), November 17 (Sputnik) – Actual problems exist in the construction of Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome in the country’s Far East will be discussed with the leadership of Roscosmos space agency, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday.
“I will have a meeting with the leadership of our space corporation. I would like to know the overall [situation] and then hear from both you and the Roscosmos leadership on what is planned because there are actual problems and these are not just objective, but also subjective [issues],” Medvedev said during a meeting with deputy ministers and addressing Deputy Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who is in charge of space issues.
Medvedev reminded the ministers that the construction of the cosmodrome is "in its active phase", although works are behind schedule. He also stressed that Vostochny Cosmodrome will be of significant importance for advancing science and the economy of Russia's Far East region, as well as for developing its geopolitical clout.
The cosmodrome’s construction began in January 2011 and is expected to be completed by 2018. The first launch was scheduled to take place in July 2015, and the first launch of a piloted spacecraft is expected in 2018.
The construction workers have repeatedly said that they are failing to meet the tight deadlines, so in 2014 Dmitry Medvedev supported the idea of establishing a coordination center at the construction site, saying that it was difficult to direct the works all the way from Moscow.
The Vostochny space center is located in Amur region, in the Russian Far East. It is expected to reduce Russia's dependency on the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
