Russia to refit Vostochny spaceport for crewed launches

Russia will start work in early 2021 to design ground infrastructure for launching cosmonauts from the Vostochny spaceport, Deputy CEO of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos for Capital Construction Yuri Roslyak told TASS on 15 July 2020. “From January 2021, the work on its design will just begin,” the deputy chief executive said.

Roscosmos plans to build cosmonaut pre-flight training compounds and also systems for their search and rescue in 2021-2024, he said. “The exact number of structures cannot be named yet,” he added.

Roscosmos drew up the list of ground-based space infrastructure for crewed programs in 2018. “Currently, the structure of ground-based space infrastructure facilities for next-generation crewed spacecraft has been specified, considering the intended amount of capital investment from 2021,” Roslyak said.

Russia is developing the Oryol next-generation crewed spacecraft for its use under the lunar program. Its first crewless flight is scheduled for 2023 from the Vostochny spaceport. The first crewed flight is planned for 2025.