One of Russia’s most important projects over the last 15 years has been the construction of the Vostochny spaceport as the country seeks to fly its rockets from native soil and modernize its launch operations.
However, the initiative has been a fiasco from the start. After construction began in 2011, the project was beset by hunger strikes, claims of unpaid workers, and the theft of $126 million. Additionally, a man driving a diamond-encrusted Mercedes was arrested after embezzling $75,000. Five years ago, there was another purge of top officials after another round of corruption.
Through it all, there has been some progress. In 2016, a Soyuz-2 rocket launched from the first pad, “1S.” And eight years later, a second pad, “1A,” opened with a successful Angara rocket launch. Eventually, the Russian space corporation, Roscosmos, would like to operate seven launch pads at the Vostochny in the far eastern area of Russia, so development work continues.
It’s unfortunate to see such a significant project facing challenges due to financial issues. The Vost spaceport has been a key endeavor for Russia, and it’ll be interesting to see how this situation unfolds. Keeping the lights on is essential for any major undertaking.
I completely agree; it’s disheartening to see the Vostochny spaceport facing these hurdles. It’s a reminder of how crucial stable funding is for ambitious projects, especially in the space sector where delays can have long-term impacts on research and development.