At Vostochny, equipment for transporting Angara rockets was tested.Specialists from the Roscosmos enterprise TsENKI checked the operability of the transport and installation unit.The transport and installation unit is used at the cosmodrome to move the rocket from the assembly and test building and install it in a vertical position on the launch pad.How the tests were conducted:First, cargo mockups simulating the Angara launch vehicle with the DM upper stage and the manned spacecraft were used to test the unit.Then, a cargo mockup simulating the Angara with the oxygen-hydrogen upper stage was placed on top of it and transported by rail to the launch pad, mated to the systems, verticalized, and secured with the trusses of the cable-fueling tower.After successful testing, the mockup was returned to the assembly and test facility.
Emergency landing on water: Cosmonaut rescue exercise in the Sea of Japan| Cosmonaut TrainingNovember 10, 2025Cosmonaut Training Center (CTC) personnel took part in a search and rescue exercise for the Soyuz MS crew. The training was held in Vladivostok jointly with personnel from military units of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The event was also organized with the participation of specialists from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), RSC Energia, the Far Eastern Aviation Search and Rescue Center, and the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia. During the exercise, CTC specialists were able to practice cosmonaut evacuation techniques from water.In a real spaceflight, the descent module lands automatically. However, an emergency situation may occur, in which the crew switches to a manual, controlled descent and lands the space module at an unplanned location. An emergency situation, such as a splashdown, could also occur. Therefore, survival drills are conducted in conditions as close to reality as possible. All rescue services participate in practicing emergency landing procedures.On the first day, specialists from the Cosmonaut Training Center conducted theoretical and practical training on several topics: the crew emergency rescue system; the composition and placement of portable emergency supplies; and cosmonaut training for actions after landing in various climatic and geographical zones. The training covered the procedure and methods for evacuating the crew from the descent module after landing and splashdown, as well as the rules for removing spacesuits.The second day was devoted to special tactical exercises for the Pacific Fleet search and rescue forces and equipment. The search and evacuation of cosmonauts and the descent module was conducted using the Odyssey simulator in the Sea of Japan. The exercise involved the rescue tug Fotiy Krylov, an Antonov An-26 aircraft, and a Mi-8T helicopter.The flight corridor for Soyuz spacecraft from the Vostochny Cosmodrome passes over the Pacific Ocean. According to the scenario, the descent module carrying the crew made an emergency landing in the Sea of Japan while returning to Earth. Naval aviation pilots discovered the splashed space module, after which rescuers approached it in a speedboat and began evacuation. In such an emergency, cosmonauts must remove their spacesuits, change into special clothing, and take with them emergency supplies.The Fotiy Krylov, a Russian tugboat unique in the world, is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest ship of its class. The ocean rescue vessel's equipment allows for complex operations, including deep-sea rescue. The giant tug is the pride of the Russian navy. It can be used to extinguish fires on ships in distress, and its bow features a helipad for 24-hour helicopter landings and refueling. The vessel also has a medical service, complete with a fully equipped operating room and hospital wards. If necessary, the rescue of the descent module carrying the cosmonauts can be organized even in the most challenging conditions.
It looks like plans to launch crewed Soyuz from Vostochny to lower inclination orbits are now seriously considered
Launch pad for Angara rockets put into operationMOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. The launch pad for the Angara heavy launch vehicles was put into operation at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, the Russian state corporation Roscosmos said."The launch pad for Angara family heavy class launch vehicles was commissioned at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The relevant authorization was obtained by the administration of the Vostochny Cosmodrome on December 8," the company said.The launch pad area is slightly above 45,000 square meters. It is currently one of the most modern and automated globally.Further to the launch table, 37 other facilities were put into operation as part of Angara launch site construction. They comprise the command post, oxygen and nitrogen storage, escape tunnels, and others.All the technological achievements of recent decades were addressed in design and construction of the launch pad for Angara launch vehicles. The design anticipates an opportunity of parallel construction, operation and tests of process equipment."In total, 70% of structures have already been commissioned within the framework of Angara launch site construction. Remaining auxiliary facilities are scheduled for delivery by the end of March 2026," head of the Administration of the Vostochny Cosmodrome Nikolay Novikov said.
afec7032 🇷🇺@robert_savitskyTechnical Complex: You can see the ongoing construction of Angara's payload assembly & processing building
