Vostochny Cosmodrome, Spaceport in Amur Oblast, Russia
Vostochny Cosmodrome is a spaceport in the Russian Far East that spreads across wide terrain with launch pads, rocket assembly hangars and control buildings. The site sits in Amur Oblast amid taiga forests and flat plains that provide room for access roads and railway lines.
Construction began in 2011 after Russia sought to reduce reliance on Kazakhstan's Baikonur site following the Soviet breakup. The first launch took place in April 2016 with a Soyuz rocket carrying satellites into orbit.
The name derives from Vostok, meaning East in Russian, which also refers to the first Soviet human spaceflight mission. Residents in surrounding villages regularly watch rocket ascents in the clear morning sky and have grown accustomed to planning their daily routines around launch announcements.
The site itself remains closed to the public as a secure military facility. Information centers in nearby towns provide insight into operations and sometimes display models and space exhibits.
The location sits far enough north that spent rocket stages fall into the Pacific without crossing inhabited areas. On clear days, launch flames can be seen from over 30 miles (50 kilometers) away, prompting residents to sometimes gather for photographs.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
