Full-scale use of Vostochny cosmodrome to provide Russia with independent launch site - Rogozin
VOSTOCHNY COSMODROME. Nov 28 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has congratulated the launch crew of the Vostochny cosmodrome on the success of the Soyuz-2.1b mission.
The crew lined up on the launch pad next to the service tower on Tuesday.
"Dear colleagues, allow me to congratulate you on the successful launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket on behalf of the entire board of the Military Industrial Commission and me personally. For now, I'd like to thank you for the good and conscientious work you have done. Thank you very much for giving our country an occasion to celebrate. Thank you again and good luck. Hail Russia," Rogozin said.
This is the second rocket launched from Vostochny, Rogozin said. The full-scale use of this cosmodrome "will ensure complete independence in delivery of all types of spacecraft into orbit," he said.
"Having successfully accomplished the Soyuz-2 mission, we are discussing the second stage of the cosmodrome's construction. We will build another launch pad several kilometers from here for the Angara-5 heavy-lift rocket," Rogozin said.
The second launch vehicle blasted off from Vostochny on Tuesday. A Soyuz-2.1b three-stage LV with a Fregat upper stage and a Meteor-M2-1 satellite as the principal payload was sent to orbit.
The inaugural launch from Russia's new cosmodrome took place over 18 months ago, on April 28, 2016. It was a Soyuz-2.1a mission.