The Vostochny Cosmodrome (meaning ‘Eastern Spaceport’) is Russia’s major, new civilian space launch facility. Located in the remote Amur Oblast in the Russian Far East, the construction and operation of Vostochny represent a massive, strategic national effort to modernise the country’s space infrastructure and, crucially, to reduce its long-standing reliance on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has continued to operate the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome under a lease agreement with the Kazakh government, paying an annual rent of over $100 million. While Baikonur remains the site with the legacy capability to launch crewed missions to the ISS, the long-term goal of Vostochny is to enable Russia to launch the majority of its civilian and commercial missions from its own sovereign territory.
President Vladimir Putin personally participated in selecting the site, which offers several logistical advantages, including the ability for rockets to jettison their lower stages over the ocean and an abundant supply of construction materials. The facility was established in August 2011 and saw its first successful launch in April 2016 using a Soyuz-2.1a rocket.
The development of Vostochny is an ongoing, multi-phase project.
- Launch Pads: The site currently features one operational launch pad, Site 1S, for the Soyuz-2 rocket.
- Angara Complex: Construction of a second, vital launch complex, Site 1A, began in 2018. This complex is designed to host the new Angara-1.2/A5/A5P/A5V rocket family, which represents the future of Russia’s heavy-lift capabilities. Despite some initial delays due to structural defects, the Angara complex had its first launch in April 2024.
- Future Plans: Further plans include a third launch pad (Site 2A) for the Soyuz-7 (Amur) rocket and a dedicated pad for a future super heavy-lift launch vehicle.
The cosmodrome is not just a technological project; it is also a strategic driver for the economy of the relatively underdeveloped Russian Far East. The government plans to create a supporting city to accommodate up to 35,000 people, complete with schools, clinics, and full infrastructure. The aim is to centralise and modernise the high-tech enterprises involved in human space flight and satellite launches, ensuring Russia maintains a competitive edge in the global space race well into the future. Vostochny is a clear statement of Russia’s commitment to independent space exploration.
