Work on Baiterek project going according to plan - Roscosmos

MOSCOW. Aug 10 (Interfax) - Roscosmos head Yury Borisov and Kazakh Aerospace Industry Minister Bagdat Musin discussed the work on the Baiterek joint project, Roscosmos said.

"The sides confirmed interest in the creation of this complex, which, among other things, will give new jobs to residents of the city of Baikonur and will create a powerful foundation for the prospects of using the cosmodrome. It was stated during the meeting that the work on the creation of the space rocket complex Baiterek is going according to plan in accordance with earlier reached agreements," the state corporation said.

Roscosmos said Borisov had also stated at the meeting that Russia planned to develop "bilateral relations in all areas of space activities" with Iran.

Borisov also met with Konstantin Busygin, the head of the administration of the city of Baikonur, with whom he discussed issues relating to the current state and development of the city.

On June 28, Musin said the construction start date had been postponed until the end of 2022 "due to preparation of the technical documentation."

In April Roscosmos' then chief Dmitry Rogozin said that the construction of Baiterek for the prospective Soyuz-5 rocket would begin in 2022.

Baiterek is an unfinished Russian-Kazakh launch site in Baikonur to be used for Soyuz-5 missions.