Moscow, Oct 30: Russia has said its spaceport at Plesetsk in Arkhangelsk region is set to become its main space harbour where new generation of rocket and space complexes will be created. The Plesetsk Cosmodrome "is a powerful testing centre staffed with highly professional specialists; (it) should become the main space harbour of the country in the future and a launching site for most space vehicles including military and dual-purpose ones," Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov was quoted as saying yesterday by Itar-Tass.

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the world's northernmost spaceport, is Russia's largest such facility. Russia would create and develop new generation of rocket and space complexes at Plesetsk, Ivanov said after his visit to the spaceport.

He said the Plesetesk Cosmodrome played a special role in Russia's space activities and providing the country with a guaranteed access to outer space.

Russia launched 1,535 boosters and 1,959 space vehicles, including more than 70 foreign ones, from Plesetsk during 37 years of its existence. The country made nearly 500 test and training launchings of intercontinental ballistic missiles at the spaceport.

Bureau Report