The Russian Defence Minister arrived at the Plesetsk cosmodrome to check the progress of modernization of its infrastructure

08.10.2021 (11:15)

The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, arrived on a working trip to the Plesetsk cosmodrome, where he will check the progress of modernization of the assembly and test building, where the Angara-A5 heavy launch vehicle will be tested.

In addition, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu will take part in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the future hospital for medical support of servicemen, family members and residents of the city.

The Plesetsk cosmodrome performs tasks in the interests of the types and branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Currently, launch vehicles of the light class Angara-1.2, Soyuz-2.1b, Rokot, medium class Soyuz-2.1a, Soyuz-2.1b, heavy class Angara-A5 are operated here.

The cosmodrome measurement facilities collect and mathematically process trajectory and telemetry information during launches of space rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The measuring facilities include points located in the cities of Mirny, Severodvinsk, Naryan-Mar, Norilsk.

Ballistic and analytical support for launch vehicles carried out from the cosmodrome allows for a complete analysis of the flight characteristics of launches of all types of space rockets, to provide ballistic and navigation support for spacecraft launches.

Being the largest cosmodrome located on the territory of Russia, Plesetsk in the future should become the main launch site for most spacecraft, primarily in the interests of the country's defence and security. Here, the creation and development of promising Soyuz-2 and Angara rocket and space complexes, built on a modern domestic element base and designed to ensure the maintenance of the orbital grouping in the coming decades, is underway.

The commissioning of these complexes will make it possible to launch all defence spacecraft from the Russian territory, guaranteeing the independence of the domestic military space.

Located on the territory of the Arkhangelsk region, Plesetsk is the northernmost cosmodrome in the world. Its total area is 176,200 hectares (46 km from north to south, 82 km from east to west).

The history of the cosmodrome began on January 11, 1957, when the decree of the Government of the USSR on the creation of a military facility with the conditional name Angara was adopted. It was created as a military unit of missile regiments armed with R-7 ICBMs, the development of which was carried out in OKB-1 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev.

The official status of the cosmodrome was acquired in accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated November 11, 1994. By 2017, more than 2,000 spacecraft for various purposes have been launched into near-Earth orbits from its launch pads. About 1,600 launches of launch vehicles have been carried out. 11 space rocket systems and 60 types of spacecraft have been tested. About 500 ICBM launches were made from the territory of the cosmodrome. 13 missile systems have been tested, three of which are currently on combat duty.

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