Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blame government officials for slow progress in the construction of the new Vostochny space center in the Far Eastern Amur region.
"Implementation of the space center falls behind the schedule," Medvedev said during a meeting with deputy ministers, adding that problems in the construction process would be discussed soon with the leadership of federal space agency Roscosmos.
Medvedev stressed that the construction of Vostochny is a great and ambitious project not only for the Far East, but entire Russia. "It is not only of scientific, but also of economic or even geopolitical importance," Tass news agency quoted him as saying.
Construction of the space center's first launch pad is planned to be completed before Dec. 25 Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said at the same meeting.
According to Rogozin, he has been to and would visit the construction site once a month to coordinate construction operations.
Moreover, Rogozin mentioned that the first launch from Vostochny was planned for December 2015.
In late October, Roscosmos chief Oleg Ostapenko said the construction of Vostochny has been conducted according to schedule, with the first unmanned launch planned for 2015 and the first manned mission for 2018.
