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Over $400 million more needed for Russia's new spaceport — space agency

The scope of work to be carried out for the completion exceeds the volume of funding

UGLEGORSK (Amur region), April 27. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) believes it is necessary to allocate an additional 22 billion rubles (around $430 million) for the completion of all facilities of the launch and technical complexes for the Soyuz-2 rocket at the Vostochny cosmodrome that is currently under construction in the Far East, the Space Agency chief Igor Komarov said on Monday.

"The scope of work to be carried out for the completion exceeds the volume of funding. In this regard, we believe, and we have reported this, that it is necessary to attract contractor companies of Spetsstroi (Russia’s federal agency for special building projects), the volume of funding should amount to 15 billion rubles ($290.94 million), and with taking into account the arrears - to 22 billion rubles (around $430 million) for the normalization of financing and completion of all the facilities," Komarov said.

According to Komarov, the launch facilities and technical area are critical for the launch minimum that comprises 11 facilities. The funds available for the remaining facilities of the minimum make it possible to complete them, the Roscosmos head added.

"At present, it is possible to additionally finance facilities within the Federal Space Program in the amount of 4.5 billion rubles ($87.28 million). After the adjustment of the federal target program for the development of spaceports it is possible to additionally provide advance funding for the launch minimum facilities under construction in the amount of 9.1 billion rubles ($176.50 million)," Komarov said.

He added that it has been proposed to provide the previously approved funding for the facilities that are not included in the launch minimum. "Their construction is not so urgent," the Roscosmos head said.

The Vostochny spaceport is being built near the town of Uglegorsk in the Amur region, Russia’s Far East. The spaceport, which has been under construction since 2010, is scheduled to be completed by November 30, 2015. Vostochny will comprise two launch platforms, an airfield, facilities for crew members’ pre-launch preparation, oxygen-nitrogen and hydrogen plants, 115 kilometres of roadway and 125 kilometres of rail track. Vostochny will become the first national civilian cosmodrome that will ensure Russia’s full access to space.