The long road to Vostochny: Inside Russia's newest launch facility

摘要

The construction of Russia's newest space launch facility, the Vostochny Cosmodrome, was inevitable from the moment the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. After leading the charge into space, post-Soviet Russia found itself suddenly without a major spaceport on its territory. Newly independent Kazakhstan became the owner of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Russia has been forced to lease the facility ever since. But access to the launch facility depends on political relations with Kazakhstan - and in recent years, environmental activists have protested Baikonur's use.