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First launch from Russia's new spaceport due on April 27

The new cosmodrome’s launch facility successfully passed comprehensive tests on March 21-25

© Marina Lystseva/TASS

MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. The first launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome will be held on April 27 at 5:01 MSK, the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities said Monday.

"The State Commission, having considered the results of comprehensive tests of the launch facility at the Vostochny Cosmodrome and preparation of the carrier rocket Soyuz 2.1a, decided to set the date of the first launch on April 27, 2016, at 5:01 MSK," the statement said.

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According to the Corporation, Roscosmos specialists began prelaunch preparation of all systems of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, as well as the carrier rocket and spacecraft. The delivery of the rocket to the launch pad is scheduled for April 23, 2016.

The new cosmodrome’s launch facility successfully passed comprehensive tests on March 21-25.

It was reported earlier, that Roscosmos announced a tender for the right to sign an agreement on insuring the launch of the carrier rocket Soyuz 2.1a from the Vostochny Cosmodrome for 1.842 bln rubles ($26.95 mln).

The construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome near the settlement of Uglegorsk was launched in 2010. The total area of the spaceport is about 700 square kilometers.

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Russia's new spaceport: Vostochny cosmodrome

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