Vostochny launch site - the future of Russian spaceflight

Implementation of large-scale space projects, including manned projects, and the need to have an independent access to space from the Russian territory requires construction of a new launch site. The paper presents statistics of launch vehicle launched by the leading spacefaring nations over the last eight years and the demonstrates the leading role Russia plays in provision of launch services. Now, most of the launches are carried out from the Baikonur launch site leased from the republic of Kazakhstan. The paper discusses the conditions for selecting the location for the new launch site and the driving factors for selecting the location for the Vostochny launch site in the Amur region, including geographical and political factors, the possibility of using local resources, as well as succession to the military launch site Svobodny. The launch vehicles to be used are the launch vehicles belonging to the Angara family. The paper presents milestones in the launch site construction, and the system of cooperation, coordination and management of activities of organizations from different agencies involved in the construction effort. The paper points out that space exploration from the territory of Amur region is the most ambitious project for the development of the region.