"The roadmap to implement the project has been developed. According to these documents, the Russian side is responsible for development of a new promising carrier rocket, which approximately costs $500 million. The Kazakh side is responsible for modernization of the existing objects at the Baikonur cosmodrome, which will approximately cost $245 million. The project is now expected to be implemented by 2025," Balitsky said at a round table.
According to Balitsky, the preparation period is expected to complete in 2018, the research and development works, as well as financing of the project are expected to be carried out by 2023, and the tests are expected to take place in 2023-2025. The first launch of the carrier rocket is planned for 2025.
At the same time, Balitsky told Sputnik that the term of the implementation of the project may be accelerated.
In November 2016, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Bakytjan Sagintayev said the Baiterek Space Complex should be completed by 2021, but could be postponed due to the economic situation.
Russia and Kazakhstan have been implementing the Baiterek project since 2004. The project prescribes the construction of the infrastructure which will allow to launch environmentally friendly rocket carriers, instead of Proton rocket carriers, which use fuel with toxic components.
The Baikonur cosmodrome is an international facility in Kazakhstan for operating Russian and multinational space programs. Russia has leased the Baikonur space center until 2050.
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