Russian space officials said Monday they will build a new rocket launch complex at Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome by the end of 2008.
Alexander Medvedev, head of the Khrunichev State Space Research and Production Center, signed the general plan for creating the Baiterek rocket and space complex for Angara boosters – new Russian heavy launch vehicles – the Itar-Tass news agency said.
Baiterek's infrastructure will be based on existing launch sites for heavy boosters.
An undisclosed source at Baikonur was quoted by the agency as saying Russian specialists will begin work at the launch site after the Russian and Kazakh space agencies settle the issue of financing.
Earlier this year, Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov was reported to have said his country was ready to allocate $200 million for Baiterek.
Once owned by the former Soviet Union, the Baikonur cosmodrome – 330 miles to the southwest of the Kazakh capital of Astana – is now leased from Kazakhstan by the Russian government.
