First launch from Vostochny pad due in 2015

The first launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome is due in 2015 despite the lower rate of the construction, Head of Roskosmos Vladimir Popovkin told Itar-Tass on Saturday. “Lately, unfortunately, the construction rates of the Amur cosmodrome have lowered, and there have been certain failures in the work,” he said. The reasons for those are the lack of workers, delays with supplies of materials and low professionalism of the constructors, he explained. However, he continued, the first launch from the cosmodrome will be made as planned - in 2015. On Saturday, Roskosmos’ working group is meeting in Uglegorsk with representatives of political parties and public organisations in the region to discuss the ecology aspect of the cosmodrome’s construction. Public hearings in the city on this issue are scheduled for September.